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Orchid Spike Pruning Guide

This document provides instructions for cutting orchid spikes to promote reblooming. It explains that the Phalaenopsis orchid is the only type that will rebloom on the same stalk, while other orchids need the stalk removed to bloom again. It describes sanitizing pruning shears before cutting by using rubbing alcohol or a flame. For a healthy green Phalaenopsis spike, the instructions are to cut just below the lowest flower or trim near the base, leaving a few nodes. For a double spike, cut one spike at the base and the other an inch below the last flower. A dying brown spike should be cut at the base.

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46 views6 pages

Orchid Spike Pruning Guide

This document provides instructions for cutting orchid spikes to promote reblooming. It explains that the Phalaenopsis orchid is the only type that will rebloom on the same stalk, while other orchids need the stalk removed to bloom again. It describes sanitizing pruning shears before cutting by using rubbing alcohol or a flame. For a healthy green Phalaenopsis spike, the instructions are to cut just below the lowest flower or trim near the base, leaving a few nodes. For a double spike, cut one spike at the base and the other an inch below the last flower. A dying brown spike should be cut at the base.

Uploaded by

dove Don
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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You are on page 1/ 6

YOUR CUTTING THE ORCHID SPIKE

CHEATSHEET
FREEBIE

A step-by-step guide to cutting the orchid spike


to promote flowering.

by Anna Weston
Phalaenopsis Orchid

Node
Faded flower

stalk
Leaf

Air root

2/6
Sterilize the Scissors
Before making a cut, be sure that your scissors have been sanitized. This
may seem like an unnecessary step, but it will help keep your orchids
healthy by preventing viruses and other pathogens from being passed
between orchids. Think of yourself as a sort of orchid doctor. There are two
ways to accomplish this: rubbing alcohol or a flame.

Method 1
Tools:
» Rubbing alcohol
» Cotton balls
Procedure:
Soak a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and thoroughly wipe down the
scissor blades.

Method 2
Tools:
» Small torch. I use a kitchen torch. One day the torch caramelizes créme
brûlée, the next it sanitizes my pruning shears. Multi-purpose.
Procedure:
Pass the scissor blades through the flame for about 4 seconds.

Read This Before Cutting:


The Phalaenopsis, or moth orchid, the one likely purchased from the gro-
cery store, is the only orchid that will rebloom on the same stalk. All other
orchids will bloom again, but not from the same stalk. All other orchids
can be trimmed at the base of the flower stalk, above leaves &
pseudobulbs.
IMPORTANT

There is one more point I want to be really clear about: Just trim the flower
stalk, not the pseudobulbs. Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedliums and Vanda
orchids don't have pseudobulbs, but most other orchids do. For instance, if
you are growing Dendrobiums or Cattleyas, don't cut the flower stalk off at
the base of the plant, just trim the flower stalk. If you see a bulge in the
stem, that is a pseudobulb and you don't want to cut that. If there are
leaves growing off a stalk, don't cut that.

3/6
If the flower spike is a healthy green
color, one option is to find the node just
below the lowest flower and prune it off
about an inch above the node. Another
flower spike may emerge, though the flow-
ers may be smaller and less plentiful than
they were previously.
Cutting a Healthy
Single Flower Spike Another option is to trim the spike near
the base, with the option of leaving just a
couple of nodes. Usually within 2-3
months new growth will appear and buds
will form. Remember that younger or
weaker plants may not rebloom. Pha-
laenopsis with branching stalks will grow
up from the base. It never hurts to trim
above the base of the plant and hope for the
best. If the stalk dies, you can always trim it
down.

My personal recommendation is to count


a few notches up from the bottom and
make your cut. Phalaenopsis orchids are
tough and can handle another blooming. If
the spike comes up from the base instead of
blooming from the cut spike, you've lost
nothing.

4/6
Trimming a Double Flower Stalk
If you are lucky enough to
have a double-spike Pha-
laenopsis orchid, cut one
spike at the base and cut the
other spike about an inch
below the last flower.

5/6
Trimming a Dying Flower Stalk
If the spike is dying, and looks
brown, trim the stem at the base
of the plant.

The Phalaenopsis is unique because


it will bloom more than once a
year. Most other orchids bloom
only annually.

If the orchid is not a Phalaenop-


sis, trim below the flower stalk,
but above pseudobulbs and
leaves.

6/6

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