How To Remove Orchids From Their Flowers?

Orchids are plants that produce beautiful blooms but require pruning once the flowers fall off. To ensure the health and longevity of your orchid, it is important to trim dead stems and roots. The first step is to cut the flower spike back to its base, which is the place on the plant’s main stem or, in some cases, pseudobulbs or keikis.

To extend an orchid’s flowering period, carefully cut off the orchid stem a half inch to an inch above the second bract above the orchid’s base. In six weeks, if your orchid has enough energy in reserve, you should notice a new stalk. Prune orchids after blooming, with timing varying depending on the orchid type. Prioritize dead or unhealthy parts of the plant to ensure its wellbeing.

To prune orchids, cut the stem back to just in front of the node where the flower emerged from. After removing the flower stalk, trim the stem back to about one inch above a healthy node, which is a small, knob-like growth on the stem where new leaves and flowers can emerge. Look for one that is green and slightly plump.

If the flower spike is a healthy green color, one option is to find the node just below the lowest flower and prune it about an inch above the node. Some people believe it is best to cut off the stem entirely at the base where it comes out of the leaves, and it will bloom again in several months.

For healthy, green spikes, find a node under the lowest flower bloom and trim 1 inch above that node, or bump, on the orchid spike. For unhealthy spikes, follow these steps:

1. Cut the flower spike back to its base.
2. Trim the stems just above the node where you see a small bump.
3. Wait for all of the blooms to fall off the plant before pruning.
4. Trim any brown or yellowed stems down to the level of the soil so new, healthy stems can emerge.