As of: February 1, 2024, 7:12 p.m
By: Ines Alms
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Orchids require special care, especially when it comes to cutting.
One wrong move can be disastrous.
Avoid the common mistakes.
Has the orchid faded or are the roots growing out of the pot?
Under certain circumstances it makes sense to cut the orchid back.
But be careful - there are pitfalls lurking here that can affect your floral splendor.
Learn when and how to properly prune your houseplant and avoid three common mistakes.
When is the right time to cut?
Pruning orchids is only a good idea in rare exceptions.
© Pond5 Images/Imago
The ideal time to prune orchids is after flowering, usually in spring.
Once a year is sufficient, unless there are special reasons such as illness or dead plant parts.
During flowering, you should not cut the roots and stem to avoid unnecessary stress on the plant - unless you want to propagate the orchid.
The best time to prune is when the flowers have faded and the stem has turned yellow or brown.
There is no need to remove yellow orchid leaves, and parts of the leaves should not be cut off.
In these cases, caution is required when pruning:
Mistake #1: Carelessly removing aerial roots
The bright aerial roots of orchids that grow above ground help the plants absorb water and nutrients from the air.
A common mistake when pruning orchids is carelessly removing the aerial roots.
Some old orchids can tolerate rejuvenation on their stunted normal roots every two to three years when repotting.
Always only cut off the brown, dead parts and be careful not to damage the healthy aerial roots.
If they bother you too much, you can put them in the pot with the substrate.
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the regular newsletter from our partner 24garten.de.
Mistake #2: Pruning the stem too much – how much is too much?
When it comes to stems, less is often more.
Multi-stemmed orchid species such as Phalaenopsis can produce flowers again on the same stem after flowering.
However, pruning too generously can hinder the growth of new flowers.
It is best to cut the stem above the second or third eye to allow room for new flowers.
If the orchid does not bloom immediately after pruning, this is not unusual.
Patience is required.
Make sure you have pruned properly and give the plant three to five months to regenerate.
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Mistake #3: Neglecting to disinfect tools
An often overlooked but serious mistake is the lack of disinfection of tools.
Inadequately cleaned scissors and knives can spread disease and affect orchid growth.
Disinfect your tools with a lighter or alcohol before and after cutting to ensure the health of your plants.
Cut wounds on orchids can be treated with cinnamon.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at her own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.