When and For How Long Do Orchids Bloom?

Age

• While older orchids tend to be more expensive to buy than seedlings, you'll often get blooms quicker. Buying a larger plant normally ensures you'll get a bloom sooner, suggests University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. While some seedlings are less expensive, they may take up to five years to bloom, notes University of Vermont Extension.

Time-frame

• While most orchids commonly bloom in the winter and spring, you can find an orchid to bloom for almost every month of the year. Exact bloom time all depends upon the type of orchid, with common bloom times lasting between one week and four months, notes the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. For example, Cattleya orchid blooms last about one month, while blooms from Phalaenopsis and Cymbidium orchids commonly stay in bloom for at least two to three months.

Frequency

• Blooming takes a lot of energy from the plant and, depending on the type of orchid or the condition of your plant, it may be able to reproduce another flower in a matter of months or it may take up to another year. Many orchids also require a slight drop in temperature to stimulate bloom growth. Moving your plant to a cooler location if a normal nightly temperature drop is not enough to spur your orchid to flower.

Considerations

• Keep your orchid blooming for as long as possible by ensuring it receives the correct care for the specific orchid you have. Generally speaking, you can determine if your orchid receives enough light by looking at the leaves; healthy orchid leaves look medium-green. If your orchid leaves look dark green, the plant likely isn't receiving enough light probably won't bloom at all. Move the orchid to a south-facing window for indirect light, and apply fertilizer once to twice a month, per the needs of your orchid. Keeping up the proper light, fertilizer and water levels provides your plant with the right conditions to produce a bloom.