As a newbie when it comes to orchid care, you probably have numerous questions about the topic. You'll quickly find out how to properly water and fertilize the plant. But at some point there will be one or two dry stems, a yellow leaf and withered flowers. And what about the many aerial roots? What can be cut off, what must remain and how and when is what is allowed to be cut cut? Question after question that we would like to answer for you today. Can and must you cut orchids?
Prune orchids after flowering
At some point, everyone realizes that pruning after flowering is necessary sooner or later. It's kind of the most obvious part. But when should you?faded orchidscut and what exactly is cut off? If the flowers bother you, you can simply pinch them off instead of waiting for them to fall off on their own. This is more of a question of aesthetics. There is a little more to consider when it comes to flower shoots:
Care for the shoots properly
You can also cut away the orchid shoots after flowering. But when exactly depends on the type of orchid. For those that grow on a single shoot (Dendrobium, for example), you can remove the shoot as soon as the last spent flower has fallen off. For multi-shoot varieties, which also include the popular Phalaenopsis, you should wait a little longer because:
- After flowering, the plant can form another shoot with flower buds on the same stem
- a child can arise
So how do you know to cut off the shoot? While it still looks fresh, leave it where it is. Only the part above the second or third eye, i.e. the one where the flowers were, can be removed immediately. If the remaining part begins to change color and dry out, this is a sign that it is also becoming unnecessary. However, it is advisable to wait a little longer, because the living part of the orchid still extracts the juices and nutrients from the shoot and is therefore still useful.
In general, the following applies to the shoots: only cut off what is brown and dry, even if it is only part of the shoot and not the whole thing.
A notice:Even if a new flower shoot has emerged on the same shoot, you should not remove it afterwards. Because new shoots can also form on the other eyes. So it's best to always check whether the stem dries up.
How to prune orchids that bloom poorly after flowering?
You can make an exception for dead orchid shoots if the plant blooms sparsely and rarely (for example, with fewer than three flowers). It's simply not worth concentrating the orchid's power on the same stem. Instead, you can cut the shoots of these orchids when they have finished flowering, i.e. when they are still green and not dried out. The plant can then use its strength to produce new, stronger shoots.
Caring for the roots – What should you pay attention to when it comes to aerial roots?
The aerial roots are very important to the plant, which is why you should only remove them in an emergency. In this case that means: only dried orrotten rootsyou can cut it off.
It is best to cut the orchid roots whenever there isTime for repottingis. Then the less visible roots are exposed and you get a good overview. It is even a must that you cut roots from orchids when you change the substrate and possibly the container, because those that are not intact are not only unsightly but can become diseased due to rot.
Can you cut an annoying orchid aerial root?
The following applies: healthy and green/silvery onesgreen orchid rootsBest left on the plant, no matter how inconvenient they are to grow. You certainly wouldn't kill the plant if you removed it, but it can weaken the orchid. So only remove these in extreme emergencies.
Cutting orchid leaves – is it necessary?
Can you cut back the leaves of orchids? Yes, you can, but only under certain circumstances and in the right way. What does that mean exactly?
On the one hand, it is important that you cut the orchid leaves correctly. This means that younever cut off just part of a leafshould, so if so, then always the complete sheet. The interfaces are ideal entry points for pathogens. Only remove fresh and green orchid leaves if theyaffected by an illnessin order to avoid spreading to the other leaves. However, never just remove them at will.
Furthermore, sooner or later every orchid always sheds the lowest leaf at regular intervals. This is a completely normal process that occurs when things get old. Itturns yellow, dries out over time and falls off. As unpleasant as it may look, it is advisable to leave the leaf on the plant until it dries out, because it still extracts important molecules that it uses for the other parts of the plant, including new ones. Once it's dry, you can peel it off instead of waiting for it to fall off on its own. But don't do this with force, just test every now and then whether it can be easily removed.
