Trimming orchid: how to do it at home and when, whether it is necessary to do it, how is the plant maintained after the procedure and the cut is processed?

Orchids are an ancient family of monocotyledonous plants. When keeping it at home, the plant requires competent and timely care. No wonder the orchid is called the elite of the flower kingdom.

If you do not follow certain rules, the orchid may die, as this is a very capricious and demanding plant. The frequency and duration of flowering will depend on how carefully and skillfully the plant owner cares for the plant.

What is cropping?

Extraordinary beauty a flower can delight the buds of its master for about six months. One of the components of how quickly the next flowering will come is pruning. As soon as the orchid has bloomed, and there are no flowers or buds left on its peduncle, it goes into a period of sleep. This means that the time has come to cut it.

Reference! Pruning is the removal of dead parts of a plant so that in the future the orchid produces new peduncles on which buds will appear.

During dormancy, the plant requires even more thorough care: watering two to three times a week, a certain level of air humidity and a good level of illumination.

Do I need to do?

Selection does not stand still, and currently there are many varieties of this plant. Florists disagree whether it is necessary to prune the stem after the orchid has blossomed, how and when is it done? Some believe that it is necessary, others argue the opposite. Both points of view are correct, since everything here depends on the plant variety. If you are not sure which care will be most suitable specifically for your plant, you can contact a specialized store and clarify this information with a specialist.

It is necessary to prune the peduncle when it is completely dry - This rule is the same for all species. If there are still buds on the branches, then soon flowers will be born there. In this case, trimming is undesirable. The correct solution would be to leave the peduncles intact. This unpretentious process has its own subtleties. There are two ways to trim: full and incomplete cropping.

Full circumcision

The peduncle is cut to the very root, dried arrows are removed. It is necessary to leave a stump of 3.5-4 cm. The arrows are cut in different places, it all depends on the breeding variety of the hybrid.

Incomplete

In this case peduncle shortened over a sleeping bud (2-2.5 cm higher). From it, subsequently, new buds will appear, the so-called “babies”. There are times that even after pruning, the peduncle may dry out. It is necessary to take into account the plant variety, some species have good ability to form daughter rosettes, in others it all depends on the season.

When is this method used?

The pruning procedure is applicable in those cases when the plant has passed from the flowering period to the sleep period (read more about the pruning procedure after flowering in this article). Once all the flowers have fallen, you need to remove the dried leaf plates and cut the trunk. Such manipulations need to be carried out only when the peduncle has already lost all its viable properties. This suggests that the plant will not bring any fruit and the most reasonable solution will be to remove all dead parts of the orchid.

Attention! If you do everything right, then soon you will be pleased with new shoots with young buds.

There are other situations when it is necessary to remove certain parts of the plant. If parts of the plant are burnt, ill, or cracked under the influence of external factors, they must also be removed. In this case, the choice is at stake, to cut the plant or lose it forever.

How to choose the right time?

Different varieties bloom differently. The duration of flowering is from 3 months to six months, and the plant can bloom several times a year. A clear sign that the orchid has bloomed is the yellow color of the shoots. It often happens that not fully dried flower stalk has a living kidney. In this case, it is better to postpone cropping.

To finally make sure that the flowering is over, leave the plant alone for a couple of days, then you can make sure that the arrow is completely dry and can be easily cut. It is widely believed that pruning should be done in the fall. This is a relative truth, since in the fall the plant falls into a phase of sleep. But it is worth keeping in mind that each variety has its own characteristics. Therefore, it is better to consult with an experienced color, which will give recommendations for care.

When can part of a plant be removed, and when not?

After the orchid has passed the flowering period, do not rush to prune the flower stalk. There are many varieties that can bloom repeatedly. But here there are two sides to the same coin. If you let the flower stalk bloom twice, this can make the plant weak and it will die. The exception is the Phalaenopsis variety. It is common for this type of orchid to bloom several times a year, so pruning is not necessary.

Roots

Most often this is necessary when replanting a plant. Only damaged roots in which the velamen is hollow, damaged or decayed need to be trimmed.

You can read more about pruning orchid roots here.

Flower stalk

As mentioned above, there are two ways to trim. The first consists in the complete removal of the peduncle, and the second involves the removal of the peduncle 2 cm above the sleeping bud.

More information on pruning flower stalks and other parts of the orchid can be found here.

Stem

The stem should not be cut completely, but leave a small shoot, about 1 cm. In the future, you need to make sure that water does not get into the place of the cut.

Leaves

Leaves should be trimmed if they are damaged, or if the plant has a lot of leaves. This may be the reason why the orchid does not bloom. Scissors need to cut the sheet in half and cut it at the base.

Read more about pruning orchid leaves in this article.

Arrows

If the arrows have become too long and the plant has acquired an aesthetic appearance, it should be cut 2-3 cm above the upper bud.

How can I handle the cut?

Pruning is best done with a garden pruner, having previously sanitized it. Secateurs leave a minimum of burrs on the stemthat may be infected. It is possible to process a plant with brilliant green, iodine or cinnamon.

Aftercare

One way or another, pruning is stress for the plant. Watering during this period should be moderate, it is best to use a spray bottle. Observe temperature conditions (about 16 16 ° C during the day and 24 ° C at night). Avoid temperature extremes.

If the pruning procedure occurred in the summer, you need to limit the ingress of sunlight so that the plant does not receive a burn. In this case, do not completely remove the light source. Fertilizer feeding is best minimized.. The most correct solution is to leave the flower alone for a while and let the plant recover on its own.

The end of flowering is the best time for pruning. Monitor the condition of your orchid, water it in a timely manner, fertilize and crop it. At first glance, caring for this plant may seem time-consuming and time-consuming. But we can assure you that by spending your time caring for the orchid, you will be rewarded for your efforts. You will be pleased with a bouquet of fragrant flowers that look like tropical butterflies. Good luck!