The duration of flowering of orchids is different, and it depends on their species. It can be a few months or just a couple of weeks. And what to do with faded flower stalks in these plants? How to prune an orchid after flowering and is it worth it at all? Or maybe wait until the peduncle dries up and falls off by itself? These and other questions will be answered in the article.
Cutting procedure: Timing
Peduncles in an orchid, depending on its type, can serve both for one-time and for long-term flowering. Pruning after flowering is necessary for all types of this plant, but it has its own nuances. It is important to correctly determine at what time it is time to cut the arrow of the peduncle. It should be borne in mind that some of the orchids bloom repeatedly, so an inept or out of time procedure can harm them. The best indicator that a peduncle can be trimmed is a change in color. If he, independing on the species, it becomes waxy or turns brown, or changes color from pink to purple or dries up, no flowers or buds remain on it - you can cut it. This usually happens in late autumn. It must be remembered that in no case should the arrow be broken off or, even worse, pulled out, even if your orchid blooms only once a year.
If the arrow remains green, do not touch it yet, because it is possible to continue flowering. How to properly cut the peduncle of an orchid if it has retained its color or is only half dry? This will be discussed further.
Cutting Tools
If you decide to start breeding orchids, you must purchase a special tool to trim them. It can be a sharp knife or a garden pruner. The right choice of tool for phalaenopsis is especially important, since its peduncle is cut off while still green, and bud growth continues on it. Scissors compress the tissue and additionally injure them, and at a sufficiently large distance from the cutting point, so they are not suitable. In addition, in this case, additional infection of the cut is possible.
Before and after pruning, the tool must be treated with alcohol to prevent possible infection of plants with infections from each other. Another option for disinfection is to lower the knife or pruner for a couple of minutes in boiling water or rinse the blade with a solution of permanganatepotassium.
Choose where to cut
How to prune an orchid after flowering if the peduncle is already completely dry? In this case, it must be cut at a height of at least two to three centimeters from the outlet. For its remainder, it will then be possible to hold and carry the plant during transplantation.
If the peduncle has retained its color, perhaps the orchid will still please you, and you should wait for flowering. This is especially true if the plant bloomed in the spring for the first time. Green arrows are cut if they do not change color for more than six months, and there is still no flowering.
How to prune a Phalaenopsis orchid
Phalaenopsis stand apart from other types of orchids, and care for them differs in many ways. Since these varieties bloom several times throughout the year, their arrows usually remain green and dormant buds are present on them. In this case, pruning must be done at least 1.5 centimeters above the sleeping kidney. If the distance is less, she may die. You can see in the photo below how to properly prune an orchid to save the buds.
You can, in principle, not do this at all, but then the arrows will branch strongly, because new peduncles appear from the buds. They can grow and become too heavy for the plant. Therefore, the arrows of phalaenopsis are cut off, focusing on this fact and their own taste. Most often, two-thirds of the faded arrow is removed, and a third of the height is left for flowering next time.
If you need to stimulatethe next flowering is faster, then the arrow can be pruned immediately after the plant has faded. It is not necessary to understand that the orchid needs rest, otherwise it will weaken.
If the arrow of the phalaenopsis begins to dry out, the plant needs a break, and it will probably not bloom in the near future. How to prune an orchid after flowering in this case? It is necessary to wait for the peduncle to dry completely and only then cut it off, because the arrow that has not dried up to the end can still supply the plant with nutrients. After the complete removal of the peduncle, the appearance of a new one will have to wait several months. But if the orchid itself set such a rhythm for flowering, then it needs a pause.
Processing the cut point
The cut site must be dried by rubbing a disinfectant into it. It can be crushed charcoal (charcoal or activated) or even cinnamon. You can lubricate the cut point on the orchid with brilliant green, iodine or a solution of potassium permanganate. In some plant species, the stem is hollow inside. In this case, the cut point should be closed using beeswax. The plant may rot if it enters the hollow stem of water. In addition, pests can get inside. Getting rid of them in this case is much more difficult than exterminating them on the leaves.
Caring for orchids after pruning
Having learned how to properly prune a faded orchid, and having done all the manipulations, you need to keep in mind that this is stress for the plant, so it should be handled with care. Feeding needs to be reduced. You need to water the orchid after the soil dries out, and moderately. The roots of a plant that needs watering are light gray in color. As a rule, these beauties are grown in transparent containers, so the roots are clearly visible.
If the procedure was carried out in the fall, the orchid will soon begin a dormant period. At this time, it is important to provide her with a certain temperature regime: not higher than +16 degrees at night and +24 during the day. Lighting should not be too bright, diffused. Orchid should be kept away from heating appliances.
If pruning was carried out in the summer, it is necessary to shade the plant from direct sunlight. In the heat, you can spray it with warm water from a spray bottle, as usual, but be sure to wait a few days after removing the peduncle.
Pruning roots
An orchid is usually not pruned in the usual sense of the word for a grower, and pruning, as a rule, means removing the peduncle. But sometimes this procedure may be necessary for both the roots and leaves of the plant. How to prune orchid roots? Usually this is done during transplantation. In this case, the plant is removed from the soil, the roots are washed and the rotten or dried parts, which are brown and have lost their elasticity, are cut off to a he althy tissue, sprinkling cuts with crushed coal.
Pruning leaves
Removal of extra leaves is resorted to if the orchid has grown too much green mass to the detriment of flowering. It happens that the owners cannot wait for flowers for several years. This may be caused by differentfactors ranging from improper watering to choosing too large a capacity when transplanting.
Due to improper removal of leaves, the orchid may die. Keep in mind that you always need to trim only the lower leaves. In no case should they be cut off from the stem. The selected sheet, after notching along the middle, is torn to the base with hands, and then carefully torn off from the trunk. It is optimal to leave no more than six leaves on the stem. The process of removing excess green mass of an orchid is shown in detail in the video below.
Also, you can simply remove wilted and dry leaves. A sluggish green leaf can still recover and become elastic. But if he began to turn yellow, it will not be possible to save him. Remove such leaves after the final drying. Aerial roots may show up underneath, tiny new arrows.
The orchid should not be watered or sprayed for two or three days after the leaves have been removed, otherwise it may rot. In addition, the substrate should also dry well before cutting.
In conclusion
The article described in detail how to properly prune an orchid after flowering. Pruning flower stalks, excess or dried leaves, roots during transplantation is an integral part of caring for orchids of any kind, and you should not be afraid of it. It is only necessary to remember that it is important to disinfect the cut points and not damage the living, he althy parts of the plant (when pruning phalaenopsis, dormant buds). If after this procedure to providethe plant needs care and carry it out according to all the rules, the orchid will certainly thank the owners with beautiful flowering.
After pruning, the orchid can bloom only after six months. This is normal, don't be scared. After all, any intervention in the life of a plant, such as transplanting or pruning, is always stressful for him, and he needs time to recover.
