Orchid Trimming
Orchids are a showy, flowering perennial, mostly found in tropical regions. With proper care and conditions, they also do well as houseplants. Keeping your orchid happy requires just the right indirect light, temperature and humidity. Proper trimming also helps it to thrive. It continues growth, encourages prolific blooming, shapes the plant and removes disease before it spreads to the rest of the plants. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Observe your orchid after its blooming period. Trim your plant as soon as the stalk begins to yellow or brown and blossoms die out.
-
2
Purchase a trimming tool for your orchid. A quality pair of clippers with a sharp blade works well.
-
-
3
Study your orchid for hollow, soft roots. These roots are dead, while thriving roots are fairly firm and white in color. Cut off the dead roots by snipping them with sharp clippers.
-
4
Cut off excess roots growing out of the bottom of planters on a sympodial or cattleya orchid. Leave long roots on other orchids if you'll be dividing or repotting them.
-
5
Snip off dried leaves and blossoms with the clippers. Snip about one-quarter inch above the node where the stem originates from the stalk. The one-quarter inch helps the orchid get a head start for the next growing season.
-
6
Remove diseased areas with spots, discoloration or growth, and trim those off as well. Also remove rotting brown and black areas.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
