If my orchid is growing new leaves, is that a good sign it will grow a spike and flower again?

Question

My dad bought me a "Just Add Ice" orchid over a year and a half ago. It was beautiful. It is a phalaenopsis orchid and when I got it, it looked very healthy and had a lot of flowers. I honestly had no idea how to take care of an orchid nor did I know they could be so finicky. I'm not sure if the roots were already bad or if I overwatered it in the beginning but after two weeks of having it, all the flowers had wilted and fallen off. Obviously I freaked out. I thought it was totally dead and almost threw it away crying. I researched them thoroughly and began the long process of rescuing it.

I was instructed to cut the two stems growing flowers all the way at the base to give the plant energy to grow better roots. I cut the stems as far down as I could see and since, the plant has grown three beautifully green and healthy looking new leaves and I just noticed a new one starting. It seems to be doing well and it even recently grew a new long healthy looking root. (At first I thought it was a flower spike and was ecstatic) I water it when it looks dry all the way down the soil ( I have it in a clear plastic container so I can monitor the roots and water needs)

I have done everything I have been told and I miss the beautiful flowers it had. I have been so tempted to purchase another one but the only place I can find them is Dominic's and Costco and can you trust those? Also, I'm terrified, if I purchase another one fully flowered, it will die again and I will be in the same position I am now. Please help me get me orchid to flower.

Extra Random Information
When bought it was in bark, switched to orchid potting mix with peat, was recommended to change, have soil like mix now with time release fertilizer ( potted it long ago though) with no peat

It has six leaves, two are pretty large, and one is slightly smaller, all of which were there when received. Three other thicker firmer darker leaves have grown in each one slightly smaller than the previous. Also, one baby leaf just starting to grow. The largest leaf is nine inches long. Also, one night I forgot to take it away from the window and one of the leaves was resting against the window and in the morning the window was freezing and there was a light brown spot with a yellow ring around it where it was resting on the window.

I water it when completely dry not on schedule. I soak it thoroughly then mix 1/4 of the recommended amount of bloom booster fertilizer with water and water it with that slowly letting it soak in slowly. The plant sits in a north western lowly lit window and I have finally found the right spot that seems to help it best.

Please help me..

Answer 1

Well, I'm not sure about the climate in your country but where I am, the climate is very humid which is best for orchids. Orchids don't usually require watering because the roots are actually ariel roots and they take water from the air. If you're actually pouring water onto the roots, you are "drowning" them. You should try instead to use a water spray can and sprinkle some water on the leaves and in the air around the roots.



The orchids I have don't grown in soil but on charcoal instead, it gives the plant a better grip of the pot.

If it was growing on a bark when you bought it, then I'd suggest you move back onto a bark or charcoal asap because I once read in an encyclopedia that only orchids successfully grown by seed in real soil can survive in soil - most of the orchids sold commercially now are test-tube grown and very weak against diseases. Since it was growing on a bark when you got it, and you also did a last minute reproduction by stem-cutting, I'm guessing it's not tolerable to soil so I suggest getting it to grow on something solid.



Orchids are tropical plants so the best temperatures for them to grow in are around 30 degrees Celsius. If you have a green house, it will be perfect. If not try to keep the orchid near light and heat at the same time, like a window near your computer.



Oh, and get some of those water-soluble fertiliser so that you can still get it the nutrients it needs to grow, even without soil.



Hope this helps, and may your orchid bloom again! (or at least not die. I can't bear to see plants dying.)

Answer 2

One way to evaluate your growing technique is to consider the health of the most recent leaves. On a phalaenopsis, the leaves grow from just one site on the plant. The leaves should not get successively smaller. This is an indication of poor growing conditions. Your plant is struggling to survive. Sorry to say, but by your description, you seem to be doing everything wrong. OK, not everything. It's good that you water the plant when dry. But the problem is, phalaenopsis orchids should not be allowed to dry out. No, you should not water every day, that's true. But neither should you permit the plant to dry out. Depending on temp and humidity conditions (and the size of the pot), your plant should be thoroughly watered every, say, 10 days. Smaller pots dry out faster than big pots. Ten days is only a guideline, Like many orchids, phals like to be in smaller rather than larger pots. The soil mix that you describe is not good either. I wonder at the advice to change from bark to a soil-like mix. Phals like an open mix where the air can easily penetrate. My advice would be to reconsider the mix issue. Go back to bark, and do so quickly. Repotting is a simple way to revive sad-looking orchids. Large commercial growers repot when the bark breaks down into a "soil" that resembles peat. When it breaks down like this, the "soil" can suffocate the roots. After repotting, the plant should be good for another 12 to 18 months before you need to repot again. Phals respond well to growing under lights, if cold windows are going to be a problem. Use a fluorescent fixture. Be patient. By your description, it seems like recovery will take some time, probably a year or two. Phals bloom only when they add a leaf to the plant. No leaf this season = no flower this season. Change the potting mix. Drench the plant every week or two depending on the weather. Don't let the plant stand in water. Don't scorch the plant with direct sunlight, especially during warm months. Be patient. Good luck.

Answer 3

Healthy Orchid Leaves

Answer 4

Sorry, but I feel like copying and pasting my answer in you previous question here... the topic looks more suitable for it. :P