How do I get my lady slipper orchid to bloom?

It grows fairly well but it has yet to bloom. When a baught it, it had a flower but I've had it 3 years and it has doubled in size and has yet to bloom. I've heard they need some cold to fix them into blooming... how would a fridge work and how long? I live in Buffalo it gets a bit too cold here i thinkHow do I get my lady slipper orchid to bloom?
Lady Slipper Orchids - and there are a few slipper orchids, some of which are hardier than others, generally for house plants purposes can be thought of as needing warm growing conditions. You can have some differential between night and day, but otherwise keep temperatures from 55 - 65 night, and 70-90F daytime.





The answerer who stated to raise the middle of the N:P:K fertilizer mix is incorrect. N(itrogen) promotes green vegetative growth, P(hosphorus) promotes root growth and K (Potassium) promotes flowering in plants. The N:P:K ratio of main nutrients is visible on most commerical fertilizer.





Orchids can be helped to grow if given a well balanced fertilizer, with lots of micro nutrients (the ingredients in addition to the N:P:K). Lady slipper orchids generally do not need much fertilizer either. You could feed every 3 weeks ago, during the growing season, otherwise, very weakly each tme you water - I'd recommend every few weeks though. I'd recommend that you get a specialized orchid fertilizer, that will have a tailored balanced mix.





If you were to get a fertilizer, a 30:10:30 N:P:K mix would be fine, as this will promote growth and flowering.





Don't over water, as this can lead to shock or rotting too, but e very 3 days or so, during the growing period should be fine.





Give your lady slipper orchid good levels of indirect sunlight, so that it can strengthen and grow - sometimes orchids don't flower, when they have low light level, instead just ambling along. Slipper orchids with spotted leaves usually relate to the more tropical kind, so I'm interested in whether yours is plain leaved or has mottles.





It can be helpful to get a fan to get good airflow around your plant, occasionally or much of the time. Natural environments for many of them have allot of air movement, so you're simulating this. This will increase the rate at which the plant looses water, so you may need to increase your watering frequency.





By the way, some slipper orchids grow naturally in England, so you can see the vast differences there are between the range of them! I am assuming that you have a semi-tropical type.





Repot your plant every spring, with a specialized orchid bark blend. Do not use garden soil, as this may damage your plant.





Hope these key tips help - repot, feed, good light though indirect and some air movement (not drafty windows). As well as appropriate temperatures - cold will potentially harm your plant, so be very careful, though I do sometimes move mine into cooler parts of the house, which may initiate flowering. Check all the other growing conditions are right though, before moving it, as this can sometimes over-stress them.





Hope these thoughts help. Good luck! RobHow do I get my lady slipper orchid to bloom?
You shouldn't need cold. What you probably need is LIGHT. Put the plant under a good fluorescent grow light, and keep it on at least 12 hours a day.





Also, cut back on the nitrogen in your fertilizer; get a fertilizer with a high middle number for blossoming - at least 15-30-15.





Good luck!