Find the uppermost node of the floral spike, which is the first bump or line below the bottommost bloom. To keep the spike stable, grab the top with one hand. With the pruning shears, cut horizontally through the spike, 1/2 to 1 inch above the indicated, uppermost node.
Should I cut back moth orchids?
Feed softly but frequently with a particular orchid fertilizer during the growing season to ensure vigorous growth and flowering.
Regular feeding every time you water the compost, on the other hand, might cause a build-up of potentially dangerous salts in the compost. Water without feeding every fourth watering to flush these away.
Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines while using fertilizer, as overfeeding can be harmful rather than beneficial. See our fertilizer guide for more information.
Encourage flowering
If the plant is large and healthy but hasn’t flowered in a while, relocate it to a cooler location for a month or so, lowering the temperature by about 5°C (8°F). After that, it should send up a new blossom stalk.
After all of the blossoms have fallen off the old stalk, trim it back to just above the second node (joint) beneath the spent flowers to encourage recurrent flowering. Often, a new flowering side-shoot will appear.
Deadheading
Pick off the faded blooms if they don’t fall off on their own to maintain the plant looking its best.
Cut a stem just above a healthy node (joint) lower down the stem after all the blooms have fallen off to promote a fresh flowering side-shoot to develop from that node.
Re-potting
As long as the roots are alive and have green tips, moth orchids can be re-potted at any time of year. Repotting is only required when a plant has outgrown its container or has lived in the same compost for more than two years:
Choose a container that is transparent. This allows you to check if the compost is still moist beneath the surface and determine when it needs to be watered. Compost that has been dampened is darker than compost that has not been dampened. Because some roots can also photosynthesise, a clear container is beneficial.
Always use orchid compost with a bark basis that has been properly made. Never use loam-based or multifunctional compost, since they will destroy moth orchids.
How do you prune moth orchids after they bloom?
Phalaenopsis orchids have a two- to four-month blooming period. You can prune your orchid’s stem near the conclusion of its blooming cycle if you want it to bloom again within a year. Other types of trimming, such as root and leaf pruning, can help you care for your Phals more effectively. We’ve put up some pruning instructions for Phalaenopsis orchids that you can use:
Stem Pruning
Only mature Phalaenopsis orchids with a minimum leaf height of 12 inches should have their stems pruned. After an orchid has finished blooming and has no visible buds, you can begin trimming it. To prune the top portion of the stem, use a sharp knife or a pair of garden clippers. Trim the stem to one inch above the “node,” a triangular-shaped portion on the stem. This sort of trimming encourages the orchid to produce a new stem part, which could bloom again in three or four months.
Leaf Pruning
A variety of factors, including fungal and bacterial infections, over-fertilization, and hard water, can cause the leaves of an orchid to blacken. Trim any charred areas of the leaves with a sterile sharp razor or blade.
Root Pruning
Pruning your Phalaenopsis orchid’s roots can help it grow healthier. Look for diseased roots while repotting your orchid and prune them with a pair of scissors or clippers. Roots that are dark and mushy are unhealthy.
Late in the fall season, when the flower spike has turned yellow and the plant has ceased flowering, is the perfect time to prune your Phalaenopsis orchid. More reblooming advice can be found on our website.
Do you cut the stem off an orchid after it blooms?
You have three options when the orchid’s blooms have dropped: leave the flower spike (or stem) intact, trim it down to a node, or remove it completely. Removing the stem will focus the plant’s energy on root development, resulting in a healthier plant with a higher possibility of fresh bloom spikes.
Orchid Spike Care
- Cut the spike (stem) 1 inch above the first node below the lowest flower bloom if the spike is still green (as shown in the image above).
- Trim the flower spike at the plant’s base if it’s starting to turn brown. On brown spikes, Phalaenopsis orchids will not blossom.
- Cut one spike 1 inch above the first node below the lowest flower bloom and the other spike at the base of the plant if your orchid has a double spike.
Your orchid is dormant, but not dead, at this time. This is how it will look for the next six to nine months, until fresh flowers arise.
Orchid Dormancy Care
Even when your orchid is dormant, it requires water and attention. To assist reblooming begin, follow these easy procedures.
- Once a week, water your orchid with three ice cubes. Use 2 cubes for a petite orchid and 1 cube for a small orchid. If you’re using a planter with multiple plants, make sure each one has its own set of cubes.
- Fertilize your orchid once or twice a month using a half-strength balanced houseplant fertilizer. During the weeks when your orchid is fertilized, avoid watering it with ice.
- At night, move your orchid to a cooler location. The arrival of fresh flower spikes is aided by cooler nighttime temperatures (55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit). You can reset your orchid to its normal setting after a new spike appears.
How far back should I cut my orchid after it blooms?
Different orchids necessitate different trimming techniques. To keep your orchids looking nice and healthy, follow the orchid trimming guidelines below.
Phalaenopsis Orchid
To work on your orchid, make sure you have exceptionally sharp pruning scissors. The cut will be cleaner if the shears are sharper. A healthy orchid benefits from a clean cut.
- Cut back the fading flowers while the orchid is still flowering. Removing spent orchid blossoms will not only keep your plant looking tidy, but it will also boost its vitality.
- Make a straight, tidy cut back to the main branch. Continue doing so while the plant is in bloom.
- When the Phalaenopsis orchid has finished blooming and all of the blooms have gone, the primary pruning can begin. Because most orchids become dormant in the fall, you should prune them then.
- Trim the stem with the blossoms away from the main stalk by approximately an inch (2.5 cm). Make a neat and even cut. If any areas of the stem have turned yellow or brown, cut them back completely so the plant can recover and grow stronger.
- Each year, repot the orchid in a larger pot to give it more room to flourish.
Young Orchids
You want to encourage your orchid to grow bigger roots and flowers if it’s still young. When cutting orchid plants when they are young, the ideal method is to cut the stalk all the way back to 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the plant’s base. It will re-grow with stronger roots, larger leaves, and greater blossoms.
Dendrobium Orchid
Trimming a Dendrobium orchid is a little different than trimming other orchids. As the blossoms wilt, cut them off but save the stem. It will flower on the same stalk the following year. Roots should be trimmed and re-potted as usual.
How do you take care of an orchid after the flowers fall off?
Orchid post-bloom care shouldn’t be a hassle. It’s no different than how you should always maintain and care for your orchid plant. This includes the following:
- After watering sessions, treat sparingly with a high-quality urea-free orchid fertilizer once a week.
Some orchids go through a hibernation period before blooming again, which can take a long time. Dendrobium orchids, Cymbidium orchids, Catasetums, Clowesias, Habenarias, and their hybrids are said to go dormant in the winter or as the temperature starts to drop. Phalaenopsis and Lady slipper orchids, on the other hand, do not. They may simply take a break.
It’s quite normal if this happens. There’s no need to be concerned. Give it some time and delicate, loving care, and it will bloom once again.
How long does it take for orchids to rebloom?
The process of getting a Phalaenopsis orchid to rebloom begins as soon as the previous bloom fades, which can happen at any time. Your plant can rebloom every three to six months if you follow the right routine.
Why does my orchid grow leaves but no flowers?
Insufficient light is the most prevalent reason for orchids failing to bloom. As an orchid receives more light, its leaves lighten in color. Too much light is usually indicated by extremely light yellow-green leaves, whilst too little light is indicated by very dark forest green foliage.