Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Assess the light levels in your plant's current spot.
- Check if your plant is getting a natural day to night temperature shift.
- Ensure the plant is mature enough to bloom, as young plants often take time.
Likely causes
Insufficient Light
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves are dark green but the plant shows no interest in producing flower spikes.
What to do: Move the plant to a brighter location with filtered, indirect light. Ensure it gets bright light throughout the day without direct sun hitting the leaves.
Lack of Temperature Drop
PossibleHow to tell: The plant looks vigorous and green but never develops buds.
What to do: These orchids often need a slight drop in temperature at night to trigger blooming. Try to keep the night temperature about 5 to 10 degrees cooler than the day.
When to worry
It is normal for these orchids to take a break after a heavy blooming cycle. Only worry if the plant has been in the same spot for a year with no flowers.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain consistent, bright indirect light and allow for a natural temperature fluctuation between day and night.
Not sure which one it is? Photograph your monkey face orchid.
This page lists the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at your actual leaf and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Does fertilizer help with blooming?
- A balanced orchid fertilizer used at half strength every few weeks can support blooming. Do not overfeed, as this can burn the roots.
- How long do the flowers last?
- The flowers are relatively short lived, usually lasting a few weeks. Enjoy them while they are there.
More problems with Monkey face orchid
Back to the Monkey face orchid guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.