Any gardener wants to have in his apartment such a strikingly beautiful flower as an orchid.
Within 6 months, this exotic plant pleases its owners with unusual, gorgeous, fragrant flowers, similar to extraterrestrial butterflies.
In order for the plant to quickly gain strength for re-flowering and active growth, the orchid must be properly cut. What to do with the arrow (peduncle), when your pet has blossomed, how to prune it so that the plant does not get sick and die - we will tell in the article, show the photo.
Is it possible and necessary to carry out pruning?
It is possible to bring this moment closer with the help of a correctly executed pruning; this procedure is also necessary if the plant begins to fall ill. Before making a decision, cut off the withered arrows from an orchid that has faded or not, you need to understand that There are a lot of species and varieties of the plant and they all have special requirements for care..
Some varieties are able to form several flower stalks that develop and begin to bloom at different times. So, as to whether it is necessary to prune a branch on which there were flowers, and when exactly to do it, after the plant has flowered, the following recommendations are given:
- As soon as it became noticeable that the peduncle dries out, you need to start to follow him.
- It is not necessary to remove the peduncle if it is not completely dry, as the orchid draws useful microelements and juices from it, which are so necessary for further development - this is very important.
- If the flowers withered and fell off, and the peduncle does not dry out for a long time, then it cannot be touched. There are varieties of orchids that can form several buds that bloom at different times on a single released arrow.
Besides some varieties of orchids on peduncles form kidsthen you need to wait until the sleeping kidney wakes up and gives a full-fledged appendix with roots. It usually takes a year. The peduncle in this case does not touch until the baby is stronger on the mother plant.
Some flower growers do not cut off the arrows from the orchid, giving the plant itself to cope with the dried peduncle.
It is noted that the orchid remains strong and healthy, only blooms much later. The inflorescences are formed larger.
What part of the plant is subject to the procedure?
After flowering, the peduncle is cut, but if fading areas are seen on the plant, then they should also be removed..
When is the best time to do this?
The optimal time when you can remove faded flower stalks is autumn (October-November), it is during this period that the plant will be least affected by the procedure. As soon as the plant fades away, a period of rest begins. It is necessary to strictly follow that the peduncle becomes dry, otherwise, if you cut it green, you can cause irreparable harm to the orchid.
Implications for potted plants
In case of removal of peduncles, there may be three outcomes:
- If pruning is carried out correctly and at the right time, then the plant after a while will delight you with new flowering.
- If you hurry and remove the arrow ahead of time, then the orchid will begin to spend a lot of energy to restore, and the flowering time may be postponed for an indefinite period of time.
- There are types of orchids that do not tolerate pruning and may soon die after the manipulation.
As you can see, this procedure has some nuances and should be approached with the utmost responsibility.
Step-by-step instructions on how to carry out the procedure.
Cutting the peduncle at the very root is impossible, as well as leaving the dry part sticking out.
Correct pruning is the removal of the peduncle to the first living bud or half a centimeter above the base.
What you need to prepare?
Required tools:
- Secateurs - it is important that the tool was in good condition and sharp. If he leaves a notch on the cut flower stalk, the plant will recover longer.
- Gloves.
- Wood ash or crushed activated carbon.
- "Fitosporin".
If there is no pruner, it can be replaced with ordinary scissors., but they should be as sharp as possible to minimize the effects of pruning. Before use, the instrument must be treated with a fungicide so that dirt and third-party infection do not get cut.
Search for the cut point
This is not difficult to do, it is enough to consider the flower spike:
- if the arrow has dried only on top, and in the living area there is a sleeping kidney, then it is necessary to cut it off 1 cm higher than the future child;
- if the peduncle is completely dry, pruning is 0.5 cm above the outlet.
How to remove faded and dry flower stalks?
Take a pruner or scissors and surely, with a quick movement, cut off unnecessary and dried peduncle.
But there are cases when the flower does not dry up, giving all new shoots for further flowering. As a result, not only the aesthetic appearance of the plant suffers, but also its health. Orchids are very difficult to keep sprawling pedunclewhich is going to bloom soon.
In this situation, you will have to do a formative pruning. Here's how to properly cut off the flowered peduncle:
- well inspect the peduncle, in order to detect the most developed kidney;
- pull back from the bud 5-6 mm, and cut off the upper, spreading part of the peduncle.
The "live" peduncle is cut only 2/3 of the part - by removing it completely, you can greatly harm the plant. After such pruning, the orchid will very quickly form new shoots and bloom.
Read more about how to properly trim the orchid peduncle after flowering and whether it should be done here.
The final stage
The cut should be immediately processed, sprinkled with ash or activated carbon, which were prepared in advance. Subsequently, a baby orchid is formed from a sleeping point.
What to do with trimmed peduncle? If the peduncle is cut off with a sprout formed on it, while the real roots of it have not yet been formed, you need to put it for rooting. For this:
- Prepare a plastic cup.
- Make a few holes at the bottom and 2 on the sides.
- Lay sphagnum moss on the bottom.
- Install lateral support in the side holes.
- Install the shoot on the oprah so that it does not touch the moss.
- Cover the jar with a plastic bag.
- After 2-3 months, the roots will appear, and the process can be planted in the substrate.
A photo
In the photo below you can see the highlights of pruning orchid.
Aftercare at home
For the orchid to quickly regain strength for further growth and flowering, it needs a period of rest.. At this time, it is better not to carry out any manipulations with the plant and provide it with favorable conditions:
- remove the orchid from the sun-sill;
- maintain air humidity favorable for the plant 70-80%;
- ensure that there are no strong temperature drops at night and day;
- do not feed;
- exclude entry of drafts to the plants;
- provide moderate watering.
What procedures should be done after the orchid has cut the peduncle:
- Water once a week. When this water is poured into the pan for 15 minutes, the remaining moisture is drained.
- Transfer plant pots with a plant in a place with ambient lighting.
- Humidity should be maintained with a diffuser or wet moss. Do not spray in any case.
As soon as the wounds after pruning are tightened and the plant gets stronger, you can start forcing - change the temperature, humidity and lighting in order to stimulate the buds to grow and make the orchid bloom.
Conclusion
To grow this exotic plant brings only positive emotions, you need to learn some of the nuances. First of all, when buying, ask the seller about the variety of the plant and the rules for caring for it. In a good flower shop, the seller is happy to tell about it. He will explain how to properly care, water during the active growing season, tell you how to cut off faded flower stalks.
