How Long Does It Take For An Orchid To Rebloom?

You got an orchid at the supermarket and enjoyed your flowers but now they are falling off so what you want to know is how long does it take for an orchid to rebloom?

What Kind Of Orchid Do You Have?

If your orchid came from a supermarket it is most likely a phalaenopsis orchid. They are also called moth orchids

These are the most common orchids most folks start out with. Hopefully, your orchid came with a label to identify it.

It is important to know because phalaenopsis orchids can rebloom on the same branch but other types of orchids do not.

So with phalaenopsis orchids, you don’t want to remove these stems because they will bear more flowers.

But with other varieties, you will want to remove the stems after their flowers are done.

How Long Does It Take For An Orchid To Rebloom?

After your orchid is done flowering your orchid will go into a resting or dormant phase.

It is not dead and it is rebuilding itself to get ready for another bloom cycle. It needs to replace the nutrients it lost in blooming.

The dormancy period can last for 6-9 months depending on the species. It will be growing more leaves and developing more roots.

During this time it is important to take good care of your orchid to get it ready to flower again.

How Often Do Orchids Bloom?

Most orchids will bloom once a year but they may bloom more often when they are well cared for.

Some orchids like Phalaenopsis orchids can bloom 2 or 3 times a year once they reach mature size. 

So if you take good care of your orchids and you might get multiple blooms each year.

How To Get An Orchid To Rebloom

This video will give you tips on how to get a phalaenopsis orchid to rebloom.

How Long Do Orchids Live Indoors?

Orchids have been reported to live over 100 years but a typical lifespan is 20 – 25 years.

Of course, this depends greatly on the care they receive. If you take reasonably good care of them they will bloom for many years for you.

Basic Orchid Care Cheat Sheet

This chart outlines how to care for orchids in a very straightforward way. It is your basic orchid care cheat sheet.

Repot Your Orchid

After your orchid is done flowering you will want to repot it. Most orchids will be potted in sphagnum moss.

There are orchid potting mixes for sale online and at many garden centers.

Orchid bark is a commonly used orchid medium usually mixed with other ingredients.

You will want to repot your orchid into a slightly larger pot. Orchids don’t mind being a bit rootbound.

The main reason to repot your orchid is to add fresh media and prevent root problems.

Most orchids are epiphytes and are true air plants. So the roots need oxygen or they can rot.

It is important to replace compacted grow media with something loose enough to provide good airflow to them.

Inspect the roots of your orchid before repotting. Remove any dead brown roots. Soft or squishy roots should also be removed.

Orchid Lighting

If you want your orchid to rebloom it is important to make sure it gets enough light to bloom. Most orchids prefer bright indirect light.

Since there are over 25,000 orchid species from many different places in the world they are not all the same.

Some orchids can handle a few hours of direct sunlight but most can not and too much direct sun can actually kill them.

Below is a chart that shows light levels for some commonly grown species.

Vanda orchids are probably most tolerant to the sun as they prefer light levels of 48437 – 53819 Lux.

Most likely the orchid you have is a phalaenopsis. They are the ones available at most supermarkets.

They prefer light levels of 10764 – 16146 Lux. Chances are your smartphone has a Lux meter in it or you can get an app for it.

The important thing you can see from the chart is that light needs can vary so it is important to know what kind of orchid you have.

Orchid Light Requirement Chart

Learn How To Water And Fertilize Your Orchid

The old often repeated saying for orchid care is to water weekly and fertilize weakly.

This is pretty good advice. Strong fertilizer mixes can easily burn exposed roots so use any fertilizer cautiously.

Be careful not to overwater your orchids or you could get root rot. Check your grow media and only water when it is dry.

Orchids enjoy being misted so this can be another way to keep them happy and provide moisture and humidity.

You can read more about providing proper orchid humidity in this article: Do Orchids Need Humidity? [The Surprising Answer] – Hydroponic Orchids

How Long Does It Take For An Orchid To Rebloom? Final Thoughts

If your orchid is done flowering please don’t throw it away! With proper care, your orchid can rebloom for you for many years.

Orchids are a bit different from most houseplants but they are a lot more adaptable than most people think.

You can learn to take care of orchids and once you understand what they need you will have orchids blooming every year and some can actually flower twice a year.

Read more: Are Orchids Hard To Take Care Of? Easy Growth Formula