Advise needed !!! for reblooming !!!

[blue thunder]

Hi all, please advise as I m a complete idiot to plants...

Few months back, I bought a pot of orchid w/o knowing how it will look like as no flowers have open yet.

After a while they bloom and it turns out to be Dendrobium Jade. the color is very nice and everyone in my family loves it.

A month ago, most of the flowers have faded so i decided to cut off all 3 flowers stalks/ stems.

Now my questions is

1. how to rebloom it?
2. Is there a standard length of how much i can cut off the stems? (i only cut it off with a slanted angle.)
3. is it true i must apply candle wax or other solution to the cut off stem?

pls advise as i have 4 more old orchids n they have not bloom for the last 2 years....

thks for yr efforts to read my questions.

[gbrice]

With my dends, I cut off the whole stalk, perhaps leaving a 2 cm stub. Are you growing them indoors or outside? Most orchids won't bloom if they don't get enough light. Can you post a picture of the orchids?

[Cjcorner]

I read the above post and I agree; when the flowers are done, cut the flower spike down to about an inch above where it grew out of the plant. Dendrobiums will then have a brief rest period where you lower the water and food. When you see new growths emerging, or new roots emerging, start watering again and feeding with an orchid fertilizer weakly weekly. Make sure if you notice white stuff on the potting material that you flush thouroughly to remove the fertilizer salts that can build up. Also, Phals, Dens, and some Catt's need repotting every two or three years to replace broke down potting materials. As the wood potting rots the roots cannot get enough air and roots will begin to rot.
Post pics of your plants and others will suggest some things to help get them to bloom. I know alot of people use a 20-20-20 type fertiliser, mine is actually a little dif., it's a blooming formula that replaces the nitrogen leached by the rotting potting medium. I use it year round. The orchids can store and use the nutrients when it needs them.
Hope this helps....good luck and welcome to the group.
Connie

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I am going to guess you need more light. It sounds like you should increase light levels. If your plants are growing well, but not blooming, usually it is a lack of sufficient light that causes them to not bloom.

Cheers,
BD