If your orchid is still blooming or if there are... 3. Water the plant until the water drains from the bottom of the pot. You can easily trim dead stems and roots on your orchid to improve its overall health. This tissue may be harboring pests or fungi, or could simply be stressing the plant out. In the winter, once every 2 weeks is sufficient. Wait for all of the flowers to fall off of a stem before pruning it. Remove the dendrobium from its pot and gently cut away any dead roots. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! First, a quick summary. Next year it will flower on the same stalk. Sign up for our newsletter. Pruning an orchid can help it last longer—and flower more. Okay, first-off to what you actually have there. Once the flowers have dropped, cut any remaining spikes off plants cleanly using sharp secateurs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in creative writing. When you look for Dendrobium orchid info, you can find whole books devoted to each of the different types of Dendrobium orchids that can fall into this category. Isolate your plant to prevent the spread of disease, and cut back feeding until your plant begins to thrive again. Different types of orchids require different pruning methods. 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The Australian Native Dendrobium class is broken up into two general sections, cooler growing and warmer growing. Dendrobiums flower between January and March. Water your plant carefully. Keep this up while the plant is blooming. Follow these steps to properly prune off old wood to make room for new blooms. Dendrobiums are primarily epiphytes, meaning they grow on other plants. The best way to cut orchid plants when they are young is to trim the stalk all the way back to one inch (3 cm.) If your orchid is fairly young, you want to encourage it to grow bigger roots and … All Rights Reserved. While the orchid is still blooming, cut back the flowers that are fading. With over-fertilization, this does not happen. In dendrobium orchids, the... 3. The sharper the shears, the cleaner the cut will be. Based in the American Southwest, Bridget Kelly has been writing about gardening and real estate since 2005. The long-lasting flowers give off a pleasant fragrance. Cut the flower stalk to within 1 inch of where it grew from the plant. It has beautiful, green foliage that blooms with flowers every spring and summer, and the overall appearance of this plant makes it an interesting and gorgeous addition to … You … The Dendrobium genus is one of the largest of all orchid groups with nearly 2,000 species. When dendrobium orchids flower, they create a spectacular floral display. Feed with a 10-10-10, or 20-20-20 fertilizer. Watering too frequently will also cause this. You can learn the general characteristics of this genre here: Dendrobium. Step 4) Pack orchid potting mix around the roots. Try to never wet the leaves of an orchid when you water it. Remove dead or diseased leaves or branches. As it grows back, it will have stronger roots, bigger leaves and larger blooms. Orchids like a variety of temperatures, so choose the best position in the house to suit the needs of the particular orchid you are growing. Don't be scared to prune your orchid — it's important to your plant's health. We will eliminate the spike, but we will leave intact the stem, which will only be pruned when a pot transplant is carried out, or they die completely. Over-fertilization will "burn" an orchid. How and when to prune an orchid Cymbidiums and similar terrestrial orchids usually flower in spring. Phalaenopsis, also known as a moth orchid, is one of the most common orchids grown in the home garden or as a potted plant. Make the cut clean and even. When to Prune Dendrobium Orchids Answer: Pruning an orchid blossom stalk should cause no harm to the plant. The most common problem with not enough light is lack of blooming or quality blooms. The dendrobium will bloom from six to eight weeks, on long, sturdy stalks and make striking cut flower arrangements. It bears showy racemes of cream flowers sometimes with purple spotted throats in spring. Pruning is an important part of Dendrobium Orchid care and should be done as needed, and with care not to disturb the portions of the plant, you will be left intact. Step 2) Carefully loosen the roots, then remove the growing medium from the root ball. An enormously diverse genus of both hardy and tender orchids, Dendrobium is a … Dendrobium Spectabile alba is an epiphytic orchid that has a rather unique appearance. Her articles have appeared at Trulia.com, SFGate.com, GardenGuides.com, RE/MAX.com, MarketLeader.com, RealEstate.com, USAToday.com and in "Chicago Agent" magazine, to name a few. Pruning an orchid can help it last longer—and flower more. Since pruning at the wrong time may result in the elimination of dendrobium flower buds it is best to prune when the flowers have died and the stalk turns yellow or brown. Purchase a balanced fertilizer designed specifically for … “Home Orchid Growing”; Rebecca Tyson Northen; 1990. Flowering pots can be moved to outdoor living areas so they can be admired, or you can cut spikes of blooms and take them indoors. Notice that the flower spike originates near the apex of the stem just above the last leaf. Make sure your plant is near a window for the best lighting. Water that is not allowed to drain away from the pot will cause the roots to rot and possibly kill the plant. The Dendrobium nobile orchid, as we can see by its name, belongs to the genus “Dendrobium”. Trimming off Dead Stems and Roots 1. Soak the cutting surfaces of your pruners in a container of rubbing alcohol for 10 minutes to kill any lingering... 2. Use a diluted orchid fertilizer once a week. Make a clean even cut directly back to the main branch. Step 3) Replant your orchid in a pot that's only about 1 or 2 inches larger than the previous pot. Prune the dendrobium orchid in late autumn or early winter, after the blooming period. The cooler growing orchids, (i.e. Since pruning at the wrong time may result in the elimination of dendrobium flower buds it is best to prune when the flowers have died and the stalk turns yellow or brown. It also gives you a great chance to give your orchid a once-over to spot any unfolding issues while they are still minor and fixable. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Make sure you have super sharp pruning shears to use on your orchid. In the summer, water orchids once a week. Native to southeast Asia, these plants grow in all manner of climates—from hot, wet lowlands to high-altitude, cool mountains. The leaves may also take on a bleached or purplish-red appearance. The Basic Guide To Pruning Orchids Last updated on April 29th, 2020 by Carl Harrison ... Dendrobium orchids bloom from the leafless cane, so if you cut it back all the way, you will prevent your plant from blooming again in the future. 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