How to Make a Chocolate Orchid Bloom

Lower the temperature of your chocolate orchids by at least 10 degrees F during the evening hours. By keeping the nighttime temperature of the orchids between 55 and 78 degrees (and at least 10 degrees cooler than the daytime temperature) for three or four weeks, more flower stems will grow from the chocolate orchid.

Move the orchid to better lighting conditions inside your home for a better chance of future blooms. Chocolate orchids thrive when they receive a sufficient amount of indirect natural sunlight. Deep green leaves indicate that the plant needs more light, while orchid plants with discolored red, yellow or green leaves need less light. Orchids are tropical plants that generally cannot be planted outdoors due to the cooler North American winters and their aversion to direct sunlight. Chocolate orchids thrive when placed in indoor pots that are positioned on the east end of the home, so it can catch morning sunlight and indirect light through the day.

Pot orchid plants with one plant per pot. Orchids do not grow well when two or more are competing for the same resources.

Water chocolate orchids when its top layer of soil is dry. Over- or underwatering an orchid can result in root rot or stunted growth. Do not allow the orchid’s soil to totally dry out; water the chocolate orchid once every two or three days. People living in cooler climates must water less frequently (a week or more between watering).