Most growers tend to look upon orchids as delicate plants and will worry about pruning them. However, as with most plants, orchids will definitely benefit from a regular pruning. The best time to prune orchids is just before they enter their annual rest period. Most orchids come from the tropics or subtropics and will enter a rest period to correspond with dry period there. Indoor gardeners can mimic this dry season by cutting back on water in the autumn, and this is the best time to prune the orchid.
By October or November, the orchid's blooming season is over. Generally, the flower stalk has atrophied and is yellow or brown. It can be removed safely at this time, leaving about one inch of old stalk above the body of the plant. Pruning away the old stalk will help to assure that a new flower stalk will be produced the following year.
Old and deteriorated plant parts not only look awful, they can also pose some degree of danger to the health of the orchid. As these are weakened parts of the plant, they can be more susceptible to the attacks of insects or to infection by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. When pruning these old leaves and stalks, be sure to use clean pruning shears, and to sterilize them with alcohol before using them on another plant. If the pruning shears are dull, it would be a good idea to use a new razor blade to prune with, but remember to sterilize between plants.
Orchid pups are small plantlets that can form on the orchid. These will eventually grow into full-sized plants that will be clones of the mother plant. The production of these pups can be encouraged by pruning away the flower stalk while it is still green, rather than waiting until it has turned yellow or brown. You must wait until the pups have formed roots of their own before removing them from the parent, but at this point they can be potted up. The same growing medium in which the parent plant is growing should be used for the pups.
Damaged or diseased leaves should be pruned at any time of the year that they appear - they might cause infection. As these leaves are already showing signs of stress, be sure to sterilize the pruning shears or razor blade before going on to another plant, and the use of disposable gloves is also a good idea.
Marianne Wong is an orchid expert. For more great tips on wedding orchids, visit http://www.orchidsgrowingcare.com/orchid-pruning/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marianne_Wong
