What to do with an orchid after the flowers fall
The flowers have gone and the orchid is left with a few leaves and a stick. It isn’t dead: it’s resting, and what you do over the next few months decides whether it flowers again.
When an orchid’s flowers fall, look at the spike: if it has dried and turned brown, cut it off near the base; if it’s still green, you can leave it or cut it just above a node. Then let the plant rest: keep the light and water by the roots, repot if the bark is tired, and give it cooler nights in autumn to send up a new spike.
Has my orchid died now the flowers have gone?
No. The moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) flowers for weeks, sometimes months, and then goes into a resting phase where it only grows leaves and roots. That’s the plant’s normal cycle, not a sign that something went wrong. According to several growing guides, a healthy Phalaenopsis indoors tends to flower about once a year; some manage twice.
What matters now are the leaves and roots. Firm leaves and plump roots, green or silvery, mean the orchid is fine and saving its strength for the next round of flowers.
Should I cut the orchid flower spike?
It depends on the colour of the spike, and this is where the advice varies a little.
- Brown or yellow, dried spike. It’s finished. Cut it off near the base with clean scissors. The American Orchid Society and growers’ guides agree on this.
- Spike still green. The American Orchid Society says a green spike can keep producing flowers, so there’s no rush to cut it. If you want to try for a second flush, cut it just above the second node (the small rings along the stem) below the spent flowers, and below any dried section. A new branch with buds may grow from that node.
- Spike still carrying buds. Leave it: those buds are still going to open.
The New York Botanical Garden suggests another route: cutting the spike back so the plant saves its energy for next year’s flowers. Both approaches make sense. A second flush from the old spike is usually smaller and weaker than the first, the American Orchid Society notes, and some growers say it can tire the plant enough to skip its next flowering. So only try it on a strong orchid with several firm leaves; on a weak plant, cut the spike and let it recover.
How do I look after an orchid while it rests?
Resting isn’t neglect. The orchid still needs light and water; it simply isn’t spending as much.
- Light. Keep it where it was, near a bright window but out of strong direct sun on the leaves. Without enough light, an orchid rarely reblooms.
- Water. Water as usual, through the roots and bark, when the mix is nearly dry. The step-by-step is in how to water a Phalaenopsis orchid. In winter, with less light, the bark takes longer to dry.
- Fertiliser. Guides disagree on how often, but agree on the direction: while it rests, less feed and weaker. A diluted orchid fertiliser now and then is plenty.
The same orchid uses water at different rates in different spots. Here are Verdejar’s numbers for a 16 cm pot:
| Where it lives | In July | In January |
|---|---|---|
| South- or west-facing window | 5 days | 7 days |
| East-facing window | 6 days | 8 days |
| North-facing window | 9 days | 13 days |
| Hallway or corner with no window | 13 days | 18 days |
Is it time to repot my orchid?
Often, yes. Several guides, including the University of Connecticut’s extension, point to the end of flowering as the best time to repot, as the orchid starts growing new roots. It’s worth doing if the bark is breaking down, smells musty, or the roots have outgrown the pot.
When you repot, remove the old bark, trim any brown, mushy or hollow roots with clean scissors, and replant in fresh orchid bark, never ordinary compost. A pot with drainage holes that just fits the roots is better than an oversized one, which stays wet for too long.
How do I get my orchid to flower again?
The signal a Phalaenopsis waits for is a cool night. Montreal Botanical Garden explains that in early autumn the plant needs a 5 to 10 °C difference between day and night, with nights around 15 °C, until the new spike appears. Several growers’ guides give similar figures, held for a few weeks.
At home, that means moving the orchid to a cooler room, or near a window where the nights drop, but away from icy draughts. Once the new spike starts growing, the same garden advises going back to normal night temperatures. After that, sudden temperature swings can make buds drop, so don’t move it around mid-way. November, with the nights cooling, is a good time for this; if your other houseplants seem to have stalled lately, see why houseplants slow down in November.
What if my orchid won’t rebloom?
The usual reasons are too little light and nights that stay warm in a heated home. If the leaves look healthy, give it more light and a cooler autumn, and be patient: a new spike can take months to appear and open. If the leaves are soft or yellow, the problem lies elsewhere, almost always the roots, and flowers will have to wait. A thirsty plant or one with rotting roots won’t bloom, just as with a peace lily that won’t flower.
At a glance
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Brown, dried spike | Cut near the base |
| Green spike, strong plant | Leave it, or cut above the second node |
| Green spike, weak plant | Cut it and let the plant recover |
| Spike with buds | Don’t cut |
| Tired bark or cramped roots | Repot in fresh bark |
| Autumn, healthy leaves | Cooler nights to trigger a spike |
Quick questions
Can I cut the spike back more than once? You can, but each extra flush takes strength from the plant. One attempt per spike is sensible.
Where is the node? It’s one of the small brown rings along the spike, each with a little scale. Cut about a centimetre above it.
The bottom leaves are yellowing: is that normal? One old leaf at a time, yes. Several at once, or soft leaves, mean it’s time to check the roots.
Should I stop watering while it has no flowers? No. An orchid is watered through its roots and bark, flowers or not.
An orchid for the whole year
If you only know an orchid by its flowers, you miss half the story: the rest is when it builds the leaves and roots the next flowering will need. Verdejar keeps you company through the months without flowers, works out watering from your light, your pot and the month, and tells you when it’s time to check the roots. See also the moth orchid page.
Sources: Missouri Botanical Garden · American Orchid Society · Michigan State University Extension · The Ohio State University. The days between waterings come from the Verdejar watering engine.