I was given an orchid in a small pot, the flowers are dead but the leaves look good, how do I get it to grow?

Orchids bloom a couple times a year. Some have a green flower stalk after the flowers die. Don't remove this, as this is the kind where the flowers grow on the same stalk in about 6 months. If the stalk turns brown and dies, cut it off. The plant will grow a new stalk for the new flowers. When the flowers die, they usually just fall off of the stalk.



Orchids are easy to care for. They also do well in a crowded pot (even though there may be a lot of tendril-like "roots" flowing out of the pot, this is normal - do not repot the plant). When watering, submerge the pot into a bigger pot full of water and let soak for about a half hour. Then remove the pot and let it drain completely. Do this once a week. Flooding and then draining soaks the bark chips the plant is potted in (where the plant gets its water).



If one of the nodes of the plant turns completely brown and dies, you can cut that part off. The plant will just keep forming new nodes (if it's that kind of orchid) where new flower stems will be formed.



Another important aspect of orchid care is proper lighting. Most orchids like filtered sunlight for a coupla-few hours a day. But, direct afternoon sunlight may kill it. I keep my orchids next to a kitchen window with a southeastern exposure. They get filtered sunlight (through partially open blinds) for a few hours a day and they are thriving.

I was given an orchid in a small pot, the flowers are dead but the leaves look good, how do I get it to grow?
Muse is right. I have never been able to get my orchids to bloom again. My roots always mold or rot, they take patience and diligence and not too much water. Here are a few sites that may help:
Reply:Cut off the stem about an inch from the bottom bloom- the first flower that opened and fell off. If you have the right environment - humidity, enough sunlight but not direct sun, and right temperature, the orchid will soon have new growth on that stem where the old flowers fell off. There should have been a care tag that came with your orchid; follow the directions on how to care for it.
Reply:It IS growing but they grow so slowly we get frustrated waiting for something to happen. It may be another year before it blooms again.

The Muse