Proper Orchids Pruning Will Keep Your Plant Healthy

Orchids pruning is a very important thing to doand bacterial infections. Old branches can also be
for the health and wellbeing of your plant. Thereremoved to make way for new growth.
are two areas of your plant that will requireTips for better pruning:
pruning. How and when you need to do this will• Handle the plant carefully: Be gentle with your
depend on the species of orchid that you have.orchid, plants are quite fragile and need to be
You can use sharp clean scissors or pruninghandled with care so as not to damage them.
shears to trim your plant. For roots a sterile razor• Try not to handle the plant when its leaves
blade or knife can be used.are wet: If you handle the plant when its leaves
There are two categories of orchid, monopodialare wet, you will put it at risk of getting mold. If
and symposia. Monopodial grow from a singlethere are any mold spores on the plant you will
vertical stem. Symposia plants grow from a singlespread them as they love water.
rhizome and produce plants horizontally.• Always use sharp clean tools: Your tools
There are a number of reasons that you shouldshould always be sharp. This will ensure a clean
do this, here are three:cut and prevent tearing and damage to the plant.
• Keep them blooming longer: You can carefullyIf you are trimming roots always use a sterile
trim old and dead blooms; you will see new budsblade or knife.
underneath. With good care you can keep them• If you are pruning roots try to repot after
blooming for about three months.you finish pruning. If you have had to trim mushy
• Keep their roots healthy: It is important toor rotting roots that smell unpleasant, mold spores
keep your plant's roots healthy and growingor disease bacteria may be in the old soil.
vigorously. You should prune any mushy or driedRepotting will ensure that the soil is clean and you
up roots. Healthy root growth can be seen bywill not get any disease in the root system.
noticing bright green tips that are producing newProper orchids pruning is vital to the heath of your
roots. Healthy roots are thick and white.plant. Once you understand how to prune your
• The overall health of the plant: It is a goodorchid you will find that it is not that hard to do
idea to prune away dead and brown leaves. Thisand your plant will reward you by blooming
will help to keep your plant from getting fungusbountifully and for a longer period of time.