Gardeners' World: Orchid expert talks caring for Phalaenopsis
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Pruning orchids is also a good idea because you can take stock of the plant’s condition, and trim back any diseased matter so it won’t affect the orchid’s development later on. When it comes to orchid care, there are different pruning regimens for different orchid varieties, but most will adhere to the steps outlined below.
Jo Lambell, founder of Beards & Daisies explained: “Orchids are up there as one of the most beautiful plants around, but they have a little bit of a reputation for being tricky to look after.
“To get the best out of yours and ensure your plant continues to bloom, pruning is an essential part of its care.
“Orchids need pruning to keep them healthy as it fends off disease and gives you the chance to look for any pests or problems. It also encourages regrowth, so it’s well worth doing.”
According to experts at Brilliant Orchids, there is a key time to prune orchids to avoid ruining them.
They said: “The best time to prune an orchid is after the blooms have faded and dropped. This will ensure that you don’t damage your plant.
“In general, orchids do not need to be pruned frequently. Most orchids bloom once per year, although some species bloom more frequently than this. Typically, you will only need to prune as often as your orchid blooms.”
Jo agreed that orchids don’t need to be pruned particularly often, and usually only once the flowers have bloomed and faded.
It’s important to pay attention to the seasons too as the expert explained: “Orchids go dormant in autumn/winter and drop their flowers, so it’s not unusual to think that you’ve killed your plant.
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“Pruning can help when trying to get your plant to bloom multiple times in growing season. Once you understand the ebb and flow of the orchid’s cycle, you’ve cracked orchid parenthood.”
Before gardeners start pruning their orchid, they will need pruning shears (or scissors), a pot, and orchid potting media.
Once they have their shears and pot, they need to sterilise them. The experts advised: “We recommend isopropyl alcohol for this, as it’s safer and more effective than vinegar or bleach.
“It’s important to always spray on some sterilising treatment at the point of any cuts to protect your orchid from pests and disease.”
Step 1: Examine the orchid
Examine the entire orchid thoroughly. Identify any particular areas (roots, spikes, leaves) that need pruning. The plant pros instructed: “Look for dead, dry, or decaying tissue that needs to be cut away.”
Step 2: Prune the spikes
This will depend on the state of orchid’s spikes. If the spike looks green and healthy, wait until the blooms have faded and fallen. Cut back the spike to within one inch of the stalk if you think the orchid will re-bud a second time before the dormant period in autumn/winter.
If the spike is healthy but it is close to the dormant season and gardeners do not think the orchid will re-bud again, trim off the whole stalk to just one inch above the base of the plant itself, being careful to trim above any nodes that are present.
If the spike is not healthy, trim off the entire spike just above the node.
Step 3: Check the leaves
If orchids have leaves that are diseased or wilting, the experts suggested you can choose to cut away just the portion of the leaf that is affected or, if the majority of the leaf is affected, trim away the entire leaf just above the base of the plant.
Be careful not to cut away too many leaves, as this can cause unnecessary stress on the plant.
Step 4: Trim the roots
The houseplant pros warned: “Only prune an orchid’s roots when you are getting ready to repot the plant.
“Typically, repotting is done no more than once a year, after the orchid has re-bloomed for the final time before the dormant period.”
Trim away any dead or rotted roots before repotting in the sterilised potting media. Refrain from watering the orchid for at least a couple of days to allow the cuts to heal. Gardeners can increase ambient air humidity in the meantime if the orchid is dry.
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