| is a necessary part of caring for orchids. | | | | Their long, curved, pointed blades are useful. |
| It’s done in a different way than you | | | | A sharp knife |
| would prune other plants because it’s best | | | | Tweezers — to remove any pests |
| to avoid pruning leaves unless they’re at | | | | you might see |
| the bottom of the plant and are old, or have an | | | | Screwdriver — to remove roots and |
| obvious disease. There aren’t very many | | | | plants from pots |
| leaves on orchids and the plant needs healthy | | | | A very clean work surface |
| leaves. Roots often need to be cut back and | | | | Clean newspapers |
| I’m going to include information on that | | | | Rubbing alcohol or a source of fire |
| procedure in this article as well. | | | | You probably own most of the above items and |
| When pruning, or cutting orchids in any way, it is | | | | what you don’t own you can buy in a |
| necessary to use sterile instruments. These plants | | | | home supply store or in a pharmacy. |
| are subject to fungal and bacterial infections, as | | | | When pruning or cutting back roots, and you will |
| well as some pests, that can easily be passed | | | | need to cut back any roots that look mushy, |
| from plant to plant if the tools and environment | | | | brown or black. You must follow the same |
| are not kept as clean as possible. | | | | sterilization procedures as pruning the plant. To |
| Sterilization is a necessary part of orchid care | | | | remove the plant from the pot you may have to |
| instructions. To sterilize tools simply hold them | | | | loosen roots that are clinging to the pot with the |
| under a flame or wipe them rubbing with alcohol. | | | | screwdriver or the knife. If you see any pests, |
| Put newspapers down on your work surface. This | | | | like snails, remove them with the tweezers. |
| will keep the surface clean and will keep away | | | | Always remove the entire potting medium and |
| anything you don’t want crawling or | | | | replace it with new potting medium when |
| getting onto your plants under the paper and on | | | | you’re finished cutting back the roots. |
| the work surface. When you’re done | | | | Potting medium rots and there’s no reason |
| pruning that particular plant, move the plant. Then | | | | not to change it once you have the plant |
| discard the newspaper, put some more down, | | | | unspotted anyway, even if it still looks okay. If |
| and wipe down and re-sterilize your tools. You can | | | | you use clear pots, like many growers, you will be |
| save yourself a world of trouble with disease and | | | | able to spot bad roots at any time and you can |
| pests by following these rules. | | | | remove them. If the problem is minor and your |
| What tools do you need to prune both orchid | | | | plant is getting ready to bloom, or blooming, see if |
| plants and roots? | | | | you can postpone the cutting. Maybe you can and |
| Shears — grape shears work well. | | | | maybe you can’t. |