Orchid Blooms

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Orchid Blooms

March 22, 2012 by myfirstorchid

Orchids are gorgeous and once you get the chance to watch one that is about to bloom, you will know how exciting it is! You will get a chance to see it, day to day, slowly open and the final product is amazing!!

Orchid blooms are initially sealed, protectively, with three sepals (as shown in the picture above). Sepals are the outer covering of the bud and are normally green (sometimes they are a dark maroon color) and then change color upon blooming.

As the bud slowly opens the sepals fold back to show the inner petals of your orchid. Inside the three sepals are three petals. These three petals are not all the same size. There are two large petals on the top left and right and a smaller petal at the bottom forming a lip. This bottom petal is special in that it forms a unique “lip” shape and often has a lot of different colors on it.

Below is an illustration of a Phalaenopsis sepals and petals.

Notes:

Orchid blooms take time to open. Be patient when waiting for them to bloom and never force them to open!

A common yet frustrating experience is called “bud blast,” which is when you are waiting for you buds to open and instead they shrivel, turn yellow, and fall off. Click on the above link for my post on this subject.

When changing from one potting mix to another your orchids may change color from one year to the next. Many times I bought a pink or yellow orchid and the next year it bloomed white. This is normal and is due to different nutrients in the soil.

Hope that Helps,

Hannah

Please free to leave comment or questions.

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Posted in blooms, bud blast, orchid care, repotting | 8 Comments

8 Responses

on December 21, 2015 at 5:21 am | Reply Marina

Hi,
My orchid is producing two spikes and the spikes go to different direction. My question is how or when can I arrange or attach a spick to a stick? I’ve tried to move a spike gently in fear of breaking the it but it won’t move.
Appreciate your guidance.
Best, Marina
- on December 21, 2015 at 9:32 am | Reply myfirstorchid
  
  Hi,
  
  Can you send me a picture at myfirstorchid@gmail.com and I can take a look.
  
  If you do please copy you questions and answers to that email.
  
  Hannah
on June 29, 2015 at 12:34 am | Reply Marie

Hello,

I recently got an orchid and its still alive but 90% of the buds resulted in bud blast and one of the blooming flowers fell off. I know that you can not fix bud blast but is it possible for a new bud to grow where the bud blast took place?

Any advice would be great.

Thank you,
Marie
- on June 29, 2015 at 7:52 am | Reply myfirstorchid
  
  Marie,
  
  No but they could grow if it produces another branch. I am so sorry this happened to you.
  
  Hannah
on October 1, 2014 at 6:32 am | Reply Georgina

Hannah,
My orchid is blooming from under the leaves, at the base of the plant. I was wondering whether this was a keiki? It has bloomed normally for years really beautifully so I’m a bit devastated!
Georgina
- on October 1, 2014 at 8:10 am | Reply myfirstorchid
  
  Hi,
  
  I am sorry! I would love to help.
  
  Is there a way you could send me a picture at myfirstorchid@gmail.com. If not we can try to figure it out here. By blooming do you mean the flowers are literally at the base or it’s producing leaves at the base?
  
  Hannah
on June 6, 2014 at 8:13 pm | Reply Judy Davey

Hannah i bought a phaleanopsis last year which had two spikes. After it finished blooming I’ve repotted and its started to grow a root. No sign of a flower spike. Do they commonly have two spikes and what are the conditions other than the normal growing conditions you’ve mentioned, that encourage two spikes? And given it had the two spikes last season will it need a rest this season and hence why its not putting a spike out. I’m in Australia.
- on June 7, 2014 at 3:41 pm | Reply myfirstorchid
  
  Judy,
  
  That’s a good question! I have never had any orchid produce two spikes at the same time. I gave one away that apparently did so I know it can do it naturally.
  
  It may need a rest from last season – also I know that at http://www.repotme.com they have fertilizers that promote more growth. You could also email them and maybe they could recommend a special one (maybe that you could find in Australia) if you are going for two spikes.
  
  But the good news is it’s growing a root and hopefully new leaves. When orchids are in their growth season (the one in between blooms) they grow new roots and new leaves which helps produce the next bloom spike(s).
  
  Hannah