Natural Flowering Rhythms

• Flowering is an energy-extensive process in plants, including orchids. Most orchids bloom only once per year, although the flowers may last for many weeks or months. After flowering ends, the orchid regenerates by building up energy from photosynthesis in its leaves. Often, orchids are cued to appropriate times to flower based on natural events, such as day length, temperature or the return of moisture with rain. Herbaceous orchids that die back in winter tend to bloom in spring or early summer when they regrow and again bask in light and warmth.
  
  

Flowering Months

• With a vast array of orchids and hybrids extant to grow, a gardener with proper facilities can enjoy an orchid in bloom every month of the year. This depends on the gardener's understanding of the natural blooming periods of the various orchid plants. Production greenhouses grow orchids year-round for both the cut flower and potted houseplant trades. Emulating natural cycles within the growth facility can cause various orchids to bloom at various times through manipulation of light, temperature and watering.
  
  

General Bloom Periods

• Wildflower orchids native to the meadows and woods of the United States tend to bloom mainly in the months of April to June, depending on climate. Tropical orchids can bloom anytime of year, based on their natural rhythms. Dendrobium, Cymbidium and Phalaenopsis naturally bloom anytime from winter to spring. During the rains, heat and humidity of spring to fall, expect Laelia, Vanda, Cattleya and Brassia orchids to increasingly produce their flowers. Exceptions always exist to these generalized rules.
  
  

Orchid Flowering Insight

• Because of extensive interbreeding of orchids, most plants encountered in homes or garden centers have complex genetic lineages. Each plant has a specific disposition as to when it will flower. While an orchid may be expected to bloom in spring, one grower in one part of the country or with certain growing conditions may always experience flowers in July, while another grower may not find flowers until early September. Moreover, because ample rest and growth time is needed after flowering for the plant to recuperate and revitalize, an orchid may not bloom on schedule sometimes if it is not strong enough or other factors aren't quite right.