| Orchid pruning is the art of removing spent or | | | | plant may also become infected from the |
| expired blooms and leaves from a plant. It is an | | | | contaminated shears. |
| art because there is a preferred way to prune | | | | Removing blooms that begin to dry up can |
| your orchids and that way encourages new | | | | encourage new blooms to show through. In |
| growth. The non-preferred way may not harm | | | | addition to pruning the bloom stems, you may |
| your orchid, but it may not bloom as often. You | | | | also need to prune the main stem; this is probably |
| want to maximize the amount of blooms that | | | | the only time you want to touch the main stem. |
| your particular orchid can yield. Phalaenopsis | | | | Phalaenopsis is a single stem plant usually with |
| orchids, when pruned properly, will respond | | | | several flower stems that appear. After flowering, |
| positively by usually having a second set of | | | | the tip of the main stem may dry and turn |
| blooms. | | | | brown. This is the time to prune the main stem. |
| The time to start pruning orchids is after the | | | | Cut the main stem about one inch above the |
| blooms have started wilting or drying up. When | | | | closest flower stem; removing this part will also |
| they are gone you can prune the flower's stem | | | | encourage new growth on the rest of the plant. |
| when it starts to turn yellowish. The timing for | | | | Apply pruning sealer to the main stem after |
| this is usually around the fall months just before | | | | cutting. |
| the winter. | | | | Pruning is a necessary activity along with |
| The tools you need to prune is a good pair of | | | | watering, feeding and lighting that Phalaenopsis |
| sharp garden shears, bleach, water, and pruning | | | | orchids need to stay healthy to flower. Cleanliness |
| sealer. Mix about a ½ cup of bleach to a gallon | | | | is an important factor in pruning. If one of your |
| of water. Sanitize the shears by soaking them in | | | | orchids is infected, keeping the work area clean |
| some of the solution for about 15 minutes then | | | | and sterile will help prevent any further spreading |
| let it air dry. Then when pruning expired blooms, | | | | of the infection to other plants. Pruning should |
| cut the flower stems about ½ to ¼ inch | | | | occur around the fall just before winter. Sterilize |
| above the main stem and apply some sealer onto | | | | any cutting tools that you use before each |
| the stem. This is the preferred way to prune the | | | | pruning session. Pruning is not only for removing |
| Phalaenopsis orchid. Leaving that little part of the | | | | old blooms, but also the topmost part of the main |
| stem intact will encourage new buds to appear. | | | | stem when it's brown and dried. Proper pruning will |
| Be careful not to cut into the orchid's main stem. | | | | allow your orchids to do their best at not only |
| Sterilize the shears with each new plant that you | | | | staying healthy, but also to continually have |
| work with. Otherwise, if you prune an infected | | | | beautiful flowers. |
| plant, then work on a healthy plant, the healthy | | | | |