Fertilize orchids regularly to provide the nutrients. Use balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer every two to four weeks. With good care and regular maintenance, an orchid plant may live for a lifetime — 100 years, or more.

How long can a potted orchid live?

Orchids are sturdy plants with a long life span. With proper care, most orchids can live around 20 to 22 years. But as time passes by, the foliage starts to become weak and produce lesser blooms. You also have to keep the orchid free from pests and disease; otherwise, that may result in the premature death of orchid.

What do you do with an orchid after the blooms fall off?

After the flowers drop from the orchid you have three choices: leave the flower spike (or stem) intact, cut it back to a node, or remove it entirely. Remove the flower spike entirely by clipping it off at the base of the plant. This is definitely the route to take if the existing stem starts to turn brown or yellow.