Droopy leaves and no flowers!
I have my first orchid. I have owned it for two years now and it has not produced flowers since I got it. Recently, the leaves have started drooping as well. I tried watering it, the leaves drooped more, I haven’t watered it in weeks and they’re still droopy. Please help! #orchidlovers
20ft to light, indirect
5” pot without drainage
Last watered 1 year ago
3
I also have an orchid which I’m pretty new to so take this as you will but as far as I’m aware orchids need bright indirect light when they’re not in bloom to help it grow those blooms. That could be why it’s not flowering but I’m not sure. I’ve also read you’re supposed to try and water it the same way you would if it was blooming. So you may want to water it a little bit more often. Like I said I don’t know that much about orchids but I hope this helps :)
Droopy leaves are often a sign of underwatering. Paradoxically with orchids however, mostly a sign of overwatering. We tend to over water or orchids or not water consistently enough which leads quickly to root rot. Also if you've had it for 2 years and haven't repotted it during that time (i assume), the medium will be very very old and acidic. Which also kills of roots.
Do you have any pictures of the leaves?
The first thing I would do is to take a closer look at the root system. If you indeed haven't repotted till now, this is the time. If he really is weakens, I would also cut the old flower spike, since it needs to concentrate on recovery instead of maintaining that.
Like Allie said, one major reason why they don't bloom is light, since we tend to underestimate how much they need. They do like light, just not direct light or they'll burn. Another major reason is temperature. With many phals a drop in temperature (just a few degrees) sends the signal that it should start a spike.
With only few (droopy) leaves your main focus shouldn't be the blooms however but rather, fixing the (probable root and) leaf situation first, so it can produce enough energy for the blooms.
Do you have any pictures of the leaves?
The first thing I would do is to take a closer look at the root system. If you indeed haven't repotted till now, this is the time. If he really is weakens, I would also cut the old flower spike, since it needs to concentrate on recovery instead of maintaining that.
Like Allie said, one major reason why they don't bloom is light, since we tend to underestimate how much they need. They do like light, just not direct light or they'll burn. Another major reason is temperature. With many phals a drop in temperature (just a few degrees) sends the signal that it should start a spike.
With only few (droopy) leaves your main focus shouldn't be the blooms however but rather, fixing the (probable root and) leaf situation first, so it can produce enough energy for the blooms.
Aaah. Here it still is 🤦♀️😅 well as we Germans say: doppelt hält besser ("doing sth twice makes it stick better" I am really bad at literal translations)
Sry for the masses of text then. Hope you can find something useful in all those words and your orchid will be better soon.
Sry for the masses of text then. Hope you can find something useful in all those words and your orchid will be better soon.