When Do Orchids Bloom? Latest Blooming Season Guide

Orchids are also known as Cymbidium goeringii, orchid grass, orchid flower, and so on. They are epiphytic or terrestrial herbaceous plants of the genus Cymbidium in the family Orchidaceae. Chinese people have always regarded them as a symbol of nobility and elegance, and they are collectively called the “Four Gentlemen” together with “plum, bamboo, and chrysanthemum.” Orchids are usually used to describe the beauty of poetry and prose as “orchid writing,” and true friendship as “orchid friendship.” They are also used to express pure love. Now let us take a look at when orchids bloom!

When do orchids bloom?

Different orchid varieties bloom at different times. Cymbidium goeringii blooms from January to March, Cymbidium sinense from December to February, Cymbidium ensifolium from May to October, Cymbidium faberi from March to May, and Cymbidium kanran from November to January. Among tropical orchids, there are also different varieties with different blooming times. For example, spring Dendrobium blooms in spring, autumn Dendrobium blooms in autumn, and Phalaenopsis normally blooms in summer, but through greenhouse regulation it can also bloom during the Spring Festival.

Why do orchids fail to bloom?

1. Not old enough to grow: Seedling orchids (seed-grown plants) and tissue-cultured plantlets may not necessarily bloom even after many years of cultivation. Just like other plants, for example, fruit trees must reach a certain age before they can bloom and bear fruit. Orchids must also reach a certain age before they can bloom and set seed.

2. Differences among varieties: The species differences among orchid types vary, and different local climate conditions often make it difficult for orchids to bloom. Take Cymbidium goeringii for example: in some regions it is relatively difficult to bloom, or relatively few plants bloom.

3. Disrupted physiological growth: The physiological growth of orchids is disrupted by various reasons, and new leaf buds suddenly appear during the flower bud formation stage. In this case, the orchid plant no longer has enough nutrients to maintain normal flower bud differentiation, causing the flower buds to stop growing and fail to bloom.

4. Improper cultivation methods: Improper cultivation methods may also cause orchids not to bloom. There are mainly the following two situations.

① Soil too rich: The orchid growing medium contains too much nitrogen fertilizer and relatively little phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, causing excessive vegetative growth and inhibiting reproductive growth. The solution is to replace it with a growing medium with balanced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nutrition or to increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.

② Overwatering: Watering too much during the flower bud differentiation stage and keeping the growing medium too wet will likewise lead to vigorous vegetative growth, inhibit reproductive growth, and cause flower bud differentiation to lack the necessary impetus, thus preventing the orchid from blooming. Reasonable watering is all that is needed.

What varieties of orchids are there?

1. Cymbidium goeringii: Cymbidium goeringii is widely distributed and rich in resources. Its blooming period is from February to March and can last about 1 month. The flowers have a rich and pure fragrance. Famous varieties include lotus, plum, narcissus, butterfly, and other petal types in various colors. In terms of petal type, the famous varieties from Jiangsu and Zhejiang are the most typical.

2. Cymbidium faberi: Cymbidium faberi has thick and long roots, narrow strap-shaped leaves, a relatively rough and hard texture, and a grayish green color. The leaf margins have obvious serrations, and the midrib is prominent. The flowers have a strong fragrance that spreads far and lasts long. The flower colors include yellow, white, green, light red, and compound colors. Most are colorful flowers, and there are also plain flowers and butterfly flowers.

3. Cymbidium ensifolium: Cymbidium ensifolium includes summer orchids and autumn orchids that bloom in summer. It is robust and upright, with green leaves and abundant flowers, strong fragrance, and beautiful blooms. It is not afraid of heat or cold, has strong vitality, and is easy to cultivate. Different varieties have different blooming periods, and flowers can be seen from May to December.

4. Cymbidium kanran: Cymbidium kanran has relatively slender leaves, especially narrower at the leaf base. Its leaf posture is elegant and unrestrained, and it is verdant and delicate. There are large-, medium-, and fine-leaved varieties as well as edged varieties. The flower colors include yellow, green, purple-red, deep purple, and so on. They generally have variegated veins and spots, and there are also pure flowers that are clean and flawless.

5. Cymbidium sinense: Cymbidium sinense is native to Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Yunnan, Taiwan, China, Hainan, and other places in China. Orchid growers in southern China, especially in Guangdong and Yunnan, most enjoy cultivating and viewing it. Its blooming period is from October to March of the following year.

6. Cymbidium tortisepalum: Cymbidium tortisepalum was first regarded as a variety of Cymbidium faberi, and later was established as an independent species. The flower colors include red, yellow, white, green, purple, black, and compound colors. They are bright and dazzling, with graceful forms and elegant charm, strong fragrance, and pure scent. They are often the first choice recommended by orchid growers.