How Many Times a Year Will Phalaenopsis Bloom?

Longlasting Blooms

• Phalaenopsis flowers last from two to three months and some plants bear the large, open blossoms for as long as six months. Typically, a phalaenopsis will bloom in late winter, around January and February. In the 21st century, the plants are cultivated to bloom year round so you can buy a plant in flower in July and enjoy the blossoms until fall. You may get a plant that blooms more than once -- some phalaenopsis bloom two or three times a year.

Repeat Blooming

• Once your phalaenopsis has finished blooming and the flowers have dropped off the spike, don't assume the show is over for the year. Cut the spike, or stem, just above the node or little bump where the first flower bloomed. The plant may produce another spray of flowers from that node. This can take about two months. If nothing has happened in two months or if the spike turns brown, cut the spike near the base of the plant. A new spike will grow to take its place.

Keikis

• The old spike may send out new flowers or it may grow a baby plant, called keikis. Let the new plant grow on the spike until it is 14 to 26 weeks old, has two green leaves and some developing roots. Then you can cut the keiki from the mother plant and repot it. Keikis will grow into flowering phalaenopsis plants in about 18 months to two years.

Reluctant Bloomers

• If your home has little fluctuation between daytime and nighttime temperatures, your phalaenopsis will not get its trigger to start producing blooms. Solve this problem by making sure there is a stretch of two weeks in spring or fall when you keep the nighttime temperature 10 to 15 degrees cooler than daytime. If the light level is too bright or too low, your plant won't bloom. You can tell low light is the problem if you see dark green leaves but no buds. Too much light turns leaves a pale yellowish-green and makes them look washed out, not healthy. Phalaenopsis does well in east-facing windows with good but not hot sun. If there is too much sun, use sheer curtains to reduce the intensity slightly.