subject: The Right Way of Orchid Pruning [print this page] Once your orchids start blooming, orchid pruning is one important task that you should not miss. Especially if your aim is to promote new and healthy orchid growth that provides you with constant blooming. But for most beginners, orchid pruning become a risky task terrified by the possible damage of the orchid plant.
To minimize the worry of damaging your plant, there are some issues that you should attend to
First, choose the right time. The perfect time to prune your orchids is when they are in their inactive stage where they stop blooming. This could start from the beginning of October until the end of November. Any postponement will cause you to miss the right time. As a result, you probably may get the orchid bloom once but without the presence of new growth.
The right timing depends also on the orchid type, especially for those with frequent blooming. If there is any doubt about your timing, you can do it best in October and November
Second, orchid type identification will help you in deciding the right timing. Each orchid type has its own uniqueness that concerns growth and flowering. The phalaenopsis for instance, they need pruning as soon as its flower is showing signs of flopping, while some other varieties are best pruned when its stem turns to brown. It is suggested to seek for on hand instructions before you do any pruning. You can obtain information online or at your local garden or plant house
Third, use the right pruning tools. The most needed and right tool is a pair of scissor style secateurs which is able to cut stem effectively without causing any damage to the orchid plant. To avoid plant diseases the secateurs should be wiped with a diluted bleach solution. You should also wear sterile gloves for skin protection.
Fourth, be sure of what and where to prune. You should know how to prune in the first place. Just start by cutting back the flower stalk first. Cut about a quarter of an inch away from the origin of the flower stalk. Make sure to take into account the type of orchid you are pruning. Some orchid varieties should be trimmed in a different way from the other orchids.
Fifth, check the condition of your orchid roots. While pruning your orchid, it is worthy to check the condition of the orchid root. Healthy roots may appear with a green or grayish film and rather swift. If you find your orchid plant turns brown, fragile and soft then you should cut it off to give way to new growth
So that's it, your pruning task is simply done. You just need two sterilized secateurs for cutting and a little courage to overcome your fear.
