How to prune an orchid after flowering

Orchid is a beautiful and delicate flower that is gaining popularity due to its beauty. Many beginner gardeners say that an orchid flower is as beautiful as it is moody. Indeed, this plant needs special living conditions, it often dies from inappropriate temperature, humidity and lack of light. The aspect of pruning a plant after flowering is very important.

As you know, an orchid blooms for a very long time - up to six months. But sooner or later this riot of colors comes to an end and the orchid eventually fades. This can be seen by dry inflorescences and a yellowed peduncle. Pruning is very important for an orchid - if you do not cut the peduncle on time, the flower can devote all its energy to restoring the yellowed stem. Proper pruning will accelerate the next flowering, which usually occurs after 3-5 months.

When to prune an orchid after flowering

When choosing a pruning time, you should pay attention to the variety of plants. Some orchids bloom several times a year. Others, on the contrary, bloom once a year, but the flower pleases the eye for a long time.

It is best to trim the orchid before hibernation, when the plant will no longer grow actively and goes on a “well-deserved vacation”. Like most indoor flowers, the orchid retires in October or November. Even if you do not know the varieties of your orchid, the characteristics of its growth, cut the plant in the second half of autumn - you will not be mistaken.

How to understand that an orchid has faded

So, if the tip on the peduncle is still alive, if it is green, then the plant has not yet faded. In this case, you can cut the peduncle several centimeters above the tip. So you can achieve the re-bloom of the old peduncle. However, it is worth noting that this is a risk. If the old peduncle does not bloom again, the flower will give all its energy to restore it, without giving enough nutrients to the new young peduncle. So be careful when trimming and leave only a truly viable “tip”.

How to prune an orchid

As mentioned, an orchid can be cut in two ways. The first is to cut off only the top with withered flowers and leave a green shoot. It can bloom again or just turn yellow and die from old age. In other cases, the stem of the peduncle is cut completely, almost under the root. You need to leave only a small stump of 1 cm in size.

Orchids are usually pruned with a garden pruner, scissors or a knife. When pruning, you need to be as careful as possible - do not touch the rest of the leaves and stems of the plant. It is very important to decontaminate the instrument with bleach before the procedure. Getting inside the stem of bacteria can lead to the death of the flower, because the orchid is so capricious and vulnerable.

When the peduncle is cut, look at the cut. Often the core of the stem is hollow. If water with bacteria and germs gets inside, this can lead to decay of the stems and the flower as a whole. Therefore, you need to "close up" the cut with beeswax.And when watering, try to pour water directly under the root, so as not to fall into the cut.

When pruning, you should pay attention not only to the faded stalk. Look at the roots of the flower. Normally, the roots of the orchid are green, grayish and certainly elastic. If the roots are dry and brittle, they should be removed. Carefully cut off the dead roots to give the flower the opportunity to plant a new, healthy root system. After that, treat the places of cuts with a special antiseptic, which can be bought in a store for gardeners. It will protect vulnerable areas from getting into the root of bacteria.

Watering orchids after pruning

Watering orchids should be moderate. This plant can be without water for a long time. To understand whether a flower needs watering at the moment, you need a small stick. Insert it 5-7 cm into the pot. If the stick is wet - the flower should not be watered; if dry - you can water it. It is best to water the orchid in the morning or in the afternoon, because at night the water is not absorbed by the flower.

In winter, you need to water an orchid very rarely. The fact is that water, penetrating the soil, rises to the stems and leaves with the help of the force that appears from the powerful sunlight. And if it is dark and dull in the winter on the windowsill, this power is simply not there, and the water remains in the roots of the plant. If the soil is loose, the liquid, of course, evaporates. However, if the earth is dense, the water remains in the root system, which causes rot. So know, if the roots of an orchid rot - this is not a consequence of excessive watering, this is a consequence of a lack of sun.

It is noteworthy that after transplanting and pruning, the plant does not need to be watered, as we usually do. This is necessary so that cut painful roots "heal" their wounds. If you water the plant immediately after transplantation, it may begin to rot.

Orchid Care After Pruning

In fact, caring for a flower after pruning is not much different from ordinary events. The plant also needs to spray leaves. High humidity contributes to the good growth and development of the plant. It is necessary to spray not only the external, but also the inner side of the leaves.

The pruning period occurs at the end of autumn, after which the plant usually goes into a dormant state. At this time, it is better not to feed the flower or minimize the amount of fertilizer. After pruning, the orchid can be transplanted. To do this, you need to take the pot wider than the previous one, make a drainage, fill the pot with substrate, and then transplant the flower along with the roots.

Orchid is like a small child. She requires attention, care and love. However, it pleases the eye with beautiful delicate flowers. Proper plant care will help you grow a beautiful piece of living art on the windowsill.

Video: how to prune an orchid