Pruning is an important procedure for an orchidand unfortunately many gardeners completely forget about it. Thanks to proper pruning, we will not only stimulate the plant to flower, but also reduce the risk of disease development. We need to do this in the fall, after all the petals have fallen.
To begin with, it is worth considering what our species is . We cut Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum only when they turn yellow, because they can bloom several times on one stem. In turn, in the case of Oncidium and Cymbidium, we only get rid of the dry shoot.
There is one rule – We use a disinfected tool for all plants. These must be sharp scissors or pruning shears. Only then will we prevent infections. It is best to wait a few weeks before pruning – then we will be sure that the faded shoot will not produce new branches with flowers.
How to prune orchids? It depends on the condition of their stems. For example, cut a dry and yellow shoot to about 1 cm above the leaf. If it is partially dried, we only remove the dry part next to the green, healthy tissue.
In the Phalaenopsis variety, where the stems are green and the flowers have fallen, we prune the shoot to about 1 cm above the 3rd eye from the bottom.. In this way, we will stimulate the specimen to produce a side shoot or keik, i.e. a new seedling.
We trim the stem and get rid of dry, diseased leaves, but leave the green onesbecause they are responsible for the photosynthesis process.
When cutting off the leaves at the base, we recommend sprinkling these places with cinnamon, which has antibacterial properties. However, there is no need to seal the wounds with wax. The orchid itself can seal tissues.
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After trimming, place the orchid on the eastern or western windowsill. Air humidity for such a plant should be between 50 and 70 percent. Temperature also plays a role in the formation of new buds. Let’s make sure that the room temperature is 22-26 degrees Celsius during the day and 18 degrees Celsius at night.
We can, but do not have to, transplant the trimmed orchids into a new pot. Remember to remove their dead roots and choose a specialized substrate.
After cutting, we limit watering the specimen. We do this only when the roots are silvery. The best option is a water bath, i.e. immersing the pot for 10-15 minutes and leaving it to drain.
In the growth phase, fertilize the plant with a special orchid fertilizer with a large dose of potassium and phosphorus.. These two minerals strengthen the root system and stimulate flowering.
