How Long and How Often Will Orchids Bloom?

Each type of orchid is unique and distinct from its brethren in more ways than one. Not only are the colors and patterns of the flowers different, but the lushness and luster of the leaves, the root structures, and even the vigor, length and frequency of the blooming period are different as well.

Take, for example, Cattleya Dowiana. The lustrous gold, yellow and red blooms of this orchid start popping up between July and September. Three months is a respectably blooming time when compared to the Cattleya percivaliana, whose lavender and red-purple blossoms appear only during the chilly winter months. Contrast these to other orchids like the Oncidium Sharry Baby which blooms frequently more than one time a year with the delicious fragrance of chocolate and vanilla. Many large, mature phalaenopsis can stay in bloom for months.

What you basically have, then, is a jigsaw puzzle to put together. Because different orchids bloom at various times in the year, the trick is to find orchids that will bloom when others do not. You will then have an array of beautiful orchids blossoming in your home the whole year round.

This does mean, however, that you will need to become familiar with the blooming cycle of several types of orchids. You need to know which orchids bloom when and for how long, if you want to find the right mix of orchids to keep in your home.

In both books, “Miniature Orchids” and “Fragrant Orchids”, the appendices list orchids by their flowering date so you can use these books a guide to create a collection of orchids that will provide year around color and fragrance.

The Effect of Light and Temperature

There are a few factors that determine just how vigorous and punctual your orchids will be at blooming. Two of these factors are light and temperature.

The lighting needs to be adequate in duration and intensity in order to trigger the blooming cycle, while the temperature needs to vary between day and night. Warmer days and cooler nights are essential to engage the biological and chemical process that, in turn, trigger the orchid’s blooming.

If there is not enough light, the orchid will not be coaxed to blossom. If there is too much light, the leaves may be burnt and your orchid will not thrive, much less blossom on time. Likewise for the temperature. If the day or night temperatures are not within the recommended temperature ranges, your orchid will be discouraged from blooming.

These fine points vary from orchid to orchid. Some tropical orchids can tolerate a lot of heat and humidity, but other more delicate types need carefully controlled environments to survive.

So back to the question of how long and how often will orchids bloom? The answer to that question can be summed up in a simple phrase:

It depends on the orchid and its environment.