The Poor Man’s Orchid (botanical name *Schizanthus*) is a total showstopper in the summer garden. These hardy little plants originally hail from the high plains of Chile. With their vibrant colors and intricate patterns, the blooms look remarkably like exotic orchids—which is exactly why they’ve earned the nickname “Poor Man’s Orchid” or “Butterfly Flower.”
How long do Poor Man’s Orchids bloom?
With just a little bit of TLC, these beauties will bloom for weeks—and often for several months. They usually start showing off their colors around mid-to-late March. While they aren’t technically hardy enough to survive a full winter, they can actually handle a light, brief frost. This means you can get your nursery-started plants into the garden or out on the balcony pretty early in the spring.
By June, you’ll notice that first big explosion of flowers starts to fade. Don’t worry, it doesn’t stop entirely, but it definitely slows down. At this point, you’ll want to deadhead any spent stems and keep up with a regular fertilizing schedule. Even so, without a little extra help, the second flush of flowers won’t be nearly as impressive as the first. Since the Poor Man’s Orchid isn’t a perennial, you can go ahead and toss it in the compost once autumn hits.
How can I extend the blooming season?
Extending the flowering season is actually pretty easy! The secret is a well-timed haircut. Pruning the plant back after that first big bloom encourages it to grow new side branches, which leads to even more flowers than you had in the spring. Just trim the faded stems back by about a third or even two-thirds.
After that, you just need a little patience. In about three weeks, you’ll see fresh new growth popping up. Depending on how early your plants started blooming, you might even be able to repeat this process after the second round of flowers. Just make sure you do your final trim by mid-August at the latest. Follow these steps, and your Poor Man’s Orchid will keep the color going right into the fall.
Quick Summary:
- Bloom start: Mid-March
- First bloom duration: Until about June
- Pro tip: A heavy pruning encourages a second flush of flowers
- Second pruning: Possible until mid-August
- Regrowth: New blooms appear about three weeks after pruning
- Season end: Autumn
- Fertilizer: Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer to boost flower production
Quick Tip: To get the most “flower power” out of your plants, use a low-nitrogen flower fertilizer every two weeks.
