How to prune an orchid after flowering: options at home

All orchids are prized for their beautiful inflorescences. But what to do when they fade? This issue has long been controversial among flower lovers. So after all, is it necessary to prune the orchid after flowering? And if so, what types of orchids can you prune?

Wanda

Wanda attracts attention with her unusual leaves. They come in a variety of colors, but most often they are purple. But they are all united by light specks on the sheets. In addition, some flowers have a delicate aroma. Inflorescences can be erect or hanging. Usually a wanda has many flowers, but sometimes there is also one large one.

Wanda

For your information! Wanda has long and powerful aerial roots. They can be up to a meter in length.

This flower is quite unusual as it can grow outside the soil. It is very important for this orchid that the air flows directly to the roots. Most often, such plants are stored in transparent containers or even without them.

Wanda is a rather capricious specimen. It should only stand in a sunny place: on a window or balcony. The leaves quickly show signs of lack of sun. Most often they are expressed as pale spots.

Aganizia

Iris care after flowering - when to prune the leaves

Aganizia is a small species. Such orchids are found only in South Africa. A distinctive feature is a thin and long stem. The petals of the flower are white. From the outside, it looks like an air cloud. Aganizia is also quite whimsical. For full growth, a large amount of light and moisture is needed. Aganizia prefers bright lighting, but the light should be diffused. Also tolerates partial shade well. The culture usually fades at the end of summer. Pruning is required closer to the beginning of autumn.

Aganizia

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis is a very interesting and unusual type of orchid. Her homeland is the rainforests of Southeast Asia, Australia and the Philippines. These flowers often grow on trees, but sometimes they can also be seen on rocks. This orchid is easy to care for. The flowering is very abundant. It can be at any time of the year and lasts from 2 to 6 months. Does not require a transplant.

Ruellia - home care and flowering options

However, the root system needs light. She uses the pot as a support. This plant does not need soil. The flowers of this plant are like hanging bells. However, they can be of different colors.

Note! It is worth cutting this flower very carefully. It contains poisonous juice. Skin contact may result in burns. Therefore, rubber gloves should be used for any procedure.

This look also involves unusual pruning. There is an arrow on the peduncle, some prefer to cut it off. Then it is placed in a glass of water, and a baby may appear on it.

Phalaenopsis

How to prune after flowering and different states of the peduncle

How to water an orchid: in a pot and at home

Any orchid needs home care after flowering. How to cut the peduncle of this plant? This is not difficult to do. You just need to carefully examine the bush and understand what exactly needs to be cut off. It should be understood in what state the peduncle itself is, this will help not to make mistakes.

Dried up

It is necessary to cut off a dry peduncle, but you need to carefully examine the plant.You can properly cut such a dry peduncle only in the place where it turns into a living stem. You shouldn't touch the live part.

Dry flowers

Green

A green peduncle is considered alive. It is highly discouraged to cut it. Orchid survives such a procedure the worst and longest. A virus can easily get into such a wound. The consequences of the virus are very different, up to the death of the flower.

With withered flowers

In case of flowering or wilting, you can not cut anything and wait for the flowers to fall off by themselves. But this takes a long time. In addition, the flower will take longer to prepare for the next flowering period. If you cut off all the excess yourself, then the next flowers will appear much faster.

Withered orchids

Browned

After the peduncle has changed its color, you need to make sure that it is completely dry. During the drying process, nutrients necessary for the further life of the culture enter the plant itself. Only after complete drying can you cut off what is no longer needed.

The need for pruning

It is really necessary to cut the peduncle. This simple action will help you go into a state of rest and gain strength until the next flowering, and not waste it.

Root pruning

Can the roots of an orchid be pruned? Roots are a special part of any flora. They can only be pruned when transplanting a plant. In this case, you need to remove the plant from the pot, clean it from the soil and moisten the roots with warm water. Strong green roots should not be touched, but dry or rotten roots must be disposed of.

For your information! Sometimes the plants are too neglected. Then the whole root system suffers. If this happens, do not leave roots at all. They need to be cut off completely and sprinkled with activated charcoal or greenery at the cut sites. However, it can take a long time to recover. Up to several years.

Stem pruning

There are several rules for pruning the stem:

you need to look at the color of the peduncle. If it is green, then you shouldn't cut it. You need to wait until it dries up;
it is imperative to inspect the peduncle for swollen buds. If they are, then the flower should also not be touched. New flowers may emerge from these buds;
the peduncle can be cut off only if it begins to turn yellow or dry;
it often happens that several shoots or branches branch off from the peduncle. In this case, it is worth trimming only the part that has begun to dry.

Pruning rules

After the plant has faded and there are no new flowers, it enters a dormant phase. It is at this time that you need to trim. If you do this during flowering, you can damage the flower. Phalaenopsis is usually pruned in October or November. Otherwise, the formation of young buds on the stem is inevitable. This will begin re-flowering. It is dangerous because the plant will spend too much of the required energy.

So how do you prune an orchid after flowering? First of all, you need to know exactly the variety, as well as when and which variety is cut. Some flowers should be cut immediately after flowering, and some only when the stem is brown.

Disinfection

It is imperative to remember that plants are living organisms, so you can accidentally infect their wounds. Before pruning, tools must be placed in bleach or boiled. After that, it is necessary to treat all the tools used with alcohol. Only then can the unnecessary parts be cut off.

Important! The entire procedure should be carried out with gloves, since some types of orchids have enough poisonous juice.

Tools

The choice of tools must be very careful. If you use the wrong ones, you can:

bring in the infection;
hurt yourself.

It is best to use a pruning shears to trim the flower. First, it has a more comfortable grip. Secondly, it has sharper blades. Thus, there is less chance of harming yourself or the flower.

Point and slice processing

After the flowering has already passed, you need to carry out a visual inspection of the plant. The stem of the orchid may continue to develop or dry out. You need to trim it only if it starts to dry. With the stem, everything is more or less clear, but is it possible to cut off the leaves of an orchid?

It turns out that it is not only possible, but even necessary. Pruning the leaves helps the plant fall asleep. Despite the ease of such a cut, it is also worth carrying it out with a pruner. And don't neglect the rules.

After removing all excess, the stem should reach a height of no more than 1 cm.

Note! If you cut the orchid when the peduncle is still green, then the orchid will recover for a very long time, up to several years.

Home care conditions after pruning

The orchid requires special care at home after pruning.

Humidity

The humidity around the flower should be high enough. To do this, it is often and abundantly sprayed. It is enough to do this 2-3 times a week.

Lighting

The orchid loves a bright room. It is best to place such a plant near a large window. But you need to make sure that there is no draft nearby. This can negatively affect the flower. In the most advanced cases, it may simply not bloom.

Temperature

For the orchid to gain weight, the temperature should not be too hot. It is best to place the plant in a room close to a window. In this case, it is worth making sure that there are no drafts. The most suitable temperature is in the range of 17-27 ° C.

Soil and fertilizing

The soil of the plant must be nutritious. For feeding, the use of complex fertilizers is allowed, but they should not be applied too often. They can harm the plant.

Pruning orchids is simple but requires a lot of attention. Orchids are quite whimsical and capricious, and they should only be cut in accordance with the rules. The most important nuance is that you cannot cut off the green peduncle, since the plant has not yet had time to receive all the substances that have accumulated in it. Otherwise, there are no restrictions.