Although jewel orchids are generally grown for their leaves rather than their flowers, there is still a definite attraction to these pretty blooms. So how long does jewel orchid bloom, how often does it bloom for, and how best to care for this pretty plant when it does? Read on, we’ve got you covered!
What You'll Learn Today
How Long Does Jewel Orchid Bloom?
This lovely plant rewards us with both leaves and flowers – and both are beautiful! The leaves are present all year round, but the flowers have a definite bloom time.
The leaves are generally the thing that people grow jewel orchids for -they are unusual and very beautiful.
However, all plants flower, and jewel orchids are no exception. Their flowers are pretty and delicate, although they have no scent, and they will add another dimension to your jewel orchid.
The jewel orchid family will all send out long shoots in the autumn, from which appear clusters of little white flowers with yellow lips. Each stem will produce upwards of 10-20 flowers.
These flowering stems are so long that they can double the height of the plant! Each flowering stem will produce a good many flower buds.
This plant can continue its display for up to 10 weeks, so you can enjoy more than just the foliage for a good long time.
Most jewel orchids will also produce many stems at once, meaning the flowers will take over the pot for a long time!
These long stems are strong and sturdy, so they won’t need staking or support as some other orchids can do.
The fact that the jewel orchid flowers in the winter makes it even more attractive – you can have flowers in your home even when nothing else is blooming.
Here is a short video about the flowers of standard jewel orchids:
How Often Do Jewel Orchids Bloom?
These popular orchids will flower – as long as the plant is healthy and happy – in the Autumn and Winter.
They will generally only flower once a year, but the flowering season lasts a long time in orchids, so it can seem as though your plant is flowering endlessly!
The bloom time is much longer than that of some other plants, and you will not have to do anything to support these flowers, beyond giving your jewel orchid its favorite conditions.
As long as they are kept healthy and happy, jewel orchids will flower repeatedly year after year.
If there is a year where your jewel orchid does not flower, it may be time to have a look at the general health of the whole plant, to make sure it is as healthy as it can be.
Plants can only expend the energy needed to flower when they are healthy and strong, so if your jewel orchid is not flowering then check on its general health.
Although the flowers are not what we are after from these pretty plants, keeping tabs on them can help you keep an eye on the plant itself.
What To Do With Jewel Orchids After They Bloom?
After the pretty little flower display is over, there are a few things you can do to support your jewel orchid.
- Ensure it has the right conditions. Low levels of lighting and water, and a cool temperature suits this plant the best.
- Deadhead any spent flowers. Removing the dead flower heads will not only make your plant look nicer, but it will help the overall health of the plant.
- Give it a feed. Flowering takes a lot out of a plant, so your jewel orchid may like a few extra nutrients after its display is finished.
- Repot it. If it has been a couple of years since you gave your jewel orchid a new home, after it has finished flowering may be a good time to do so.
- Enjoy it! The pretty pinstripe leaves are the real attraction with this plant, rather than the flowers as is the case with other orchids, so just enjoy its attractive foliage.
These plants will only flower if they are given the right care and conditions, so making sure your jewel orchid is happy is the best way to encourage it to flower.
When Should I Repot My Jewel Orchid?
Repotting your jewel orchid is not something you will have to do very often – in fact, most of these little plants don’t need repotting more than once every couple of years, or even less frequently.
Repotting it after it has flowered is a good idea; repotting it during the flowering season will stress the plant and may cause the flowers to droop or die.
The best time to repot your jewel orchid is when the plant is more dormant, so it is less likely to be affected by the repotting process.
Unlike many plants, this one tends to keep going pretty consistently all year round, so it can be hard to know when its dormant period may be!
A good rule of thumb is to repot it after it has flowered; this will allow the plant plenty of time to recover.
The flowering stems are long and can add a bit more weight to your jewel orchid, making it look top heavy.
Seeing these elongated stems may make you notice that your jewel orchid itself is looking a little big for its pot, so now may be a good time for a repotting.
If you spot roots poking out of the soil, things may be critical for your jewel orchid – it needs more space right now, so if this is the case then you shouldn’t wait for the flowering.
Jewel orchids have lovely leaves and beautiful flowers, so encouraging them to produce more of both of these things will reward you immensely!
Once you know a little more about the blooming habits of jewel orchids you can do all you can to encourage this sweet plant to produce as best it can.
Can I put my Jewel Orchid flowers in a cut flower display?
Certainly you can! These pretty little flowers will make a great filler for flower arrangements, although they are quite small so you will have to place them carefully. They also take longer to wilt than some other cut flowers so your arrangement will last.