How to prune the flower spikes of Cymbidium orchids? A detailed guide to post-bloom pruning methods

Growing Techniques Jan 1, 1970 0 views

Cymbidium orchids, a hybrid orchid with a great many varieties, have developed nearly 1000 varieties to date. Their blooms are large and their colors rich, making them deeply loved by flower enthusiasts. During the blooming period of Cymbidium orchids, we can fully enjoy their beauty, but once the flowers fade, they need to be pruned

1. How to prune the flower spikes of Cymbidium orchids: the method matters

In the cultivation methods for Cymbidium orchids, besides light, water and fertilizer that everyone needs to pay attention to, there is one more point that cannot be ignored, and that is pruning the flower spikes. Pruning is a skilled task, and you must especially be careful when pruning flower spikes, because a wrong cut can kill the plant. So how do you prune the flower spikes of Cymbidium orchids? This requires us to master the method.

2. Pruning methods for Cymbidium orchids

1. Reasons for pruning the flower spikes

Before understanding how to prune the flower spikes of Cymbidium orchids, we need to know the reasons for pruning them. For this, I have summarized 2 points:

① After a Cymbidium orchid blooms, the flowers are large and numerous, making the top too heavy and very prone to falling over, so pruning is needed;

② The blooming period of a Cymbidium orchid is 1-2 months, after which the flowers gradually wither. Cutting off the flower spikes at this time can avoid consuming too many nutrients, benefits the sprouting of new shoots, and does not affect blooming the following year.

2. Pruning methods

① If there are many flowers, you can cut the Cymbidium orchid flower spike from below, so that it neither affects the appearance nor consumes too many nutrients;

② After the Cymbidium orchid flowers fade, cut off the withered flowers, gently take the plant out of the pot, clean up diseased roots, old roots and broken roots, and then plant it into a slightly larger pot.

In addition, after the flower spikes are pruned, there is no need to repot. You can simply clean up and replace the rotted, blackened growing medium in the pot. Cymbidium orchids are not afraid of being crowded, and the more crowded they are, the better they grow, which is even more beneficial for their own blooming.

3. Points to note

How do you prune the flower spikes of Cymbidium orchids? Besides knowing the method, there are also some points to note. For example, during pruning, you must protect the new shoots and pseudobulbs that have already formed. The original pseudobulbs and leaves of the Cymbidium orchid all need to be kept and must not be pruned, because the Cymbidium orchid plant is made up of the mother bulb, daughter bulb and grandchild bulb. Among them, the grandchild bulb grows fastest and is also the bulb that sprouts and blooms in that year.

In addition, Cymbidium orchids like humidity and sunlight. After cutting off the flower spikes, you should move it to a well-ventilated windowsill, which can promote better growth. After placing it there for about a week, then move the Cymbidium orchid outdoors, proceeding step by step. Never move it suddenly from indoors to outdoors, because the sudden change in environment and light will affect its growth.

How to prune the flower spikes of Cymbidium orchids

Reasons for pruning the flower spikes

Because Cymbidium orchids have many and large flowers, the top is too heavy and they are very prone to falling over. In addition, the blooming period of a Cymbidium orchid is about 1 to 2 months, after which the flowers gradually wither. Cutting off the flower spikes at this time can avoid consuming too many nutrients and benefits the sprouting of new shoots.

Pruning methods

Cut the flower spike from below, so that it neither affects the appearance nor consumes too many nutrients. In addition, Cymbidium orchids like humidity and sunlight, and the suitable temperature is between 10°C and 28°C. After cutting off the flower spikes, move it to a well-ventilated windowsill, which can promote better growth. After placing it there for about a week, then move the flower outdoors, proceeding step by step. Never move it suddenly from indoors to outdoors, because the sudden change in environment and light will affect its growth.

How to repot Cymbidium orchids: repotting methods for Cymbidium orchids / pruning roots and changing potting soil after blooming

As one of the most beautiful orchid varieties, Cymbidium orchids are kept in many people's homes. To grow them well, there are some care techniques everyone must master, including repotting. During cultivation, it is best to repot Cymbidium orchids once a year. So how do you repot Cymbidium orchids? Let's take a look together at the repotting methods for Cymbidium orchids.

1. How to repot Cymbidium orchids: the method matters

After buying a Cymbidium orchid, as the cultivation time increases, it will grow bigger and bigger, and the pot will seem too small. For the healthy growth of the Cymbidium orchid, repotting it at the right time becomes crucial. So how do you repot a Cymbidium orchid? At this point, everyone needs to master the repotting method, otherwise it is easy to kill the plant.

2. Repotting methods for Cymbidium orchids

(1) Repotting time

Cymbidium orchids are generally repotted once a year. As for the specific time, it is best to repot them after the blooming period each year. Take the whole plant out, trim the rotten roots, and put in some new growing medium. Doing so benefits reblooming the following year.

(2) Preparation before repotting

Now that you know the importance of repotting Cymbidium orchids and the specific repotting time, you should also do the preparation work before repotting. Simply put, before repotting a Cymbidium orchid you need to prepare some materials and do some things, as follows:

1. Decomposed pine bark: you can collect it yourself or buy it online. Before use, boil it for 30 minutes to remove oily substances and kill insect eggs and bacteria.

2. Flower pot: an orchid-specific pot one size larger than the original pot. It cannot be too large, otherwise the water will not dry easily after watering, which can easily cause root rot. Orchid-specific pots have relatively good air and water permeability.

3. When pulling the Cymbidium orchid out, be as careful as possible and do not damage the root system. You should be prepared to damage the flower pot rather than destroy the roots.

4. Before preparing to repot, you need to stop watering the Cymbidium orchid for a few days, because if the roots have absorbed plenty of water, they are easily broken when being taken out of the pot, whereas when lacking water, the roots are soft and not easily broken.

5. Clean up rotten roots, hollow roots and some old leaves. If there are many rotten roots, a lot needs to be trimmed off, and we need to put it in a cool, ventilated place to air for two days, which benefits the healing of root wounds.

(3) Starting to repot

How do you repot a Cymbidium orchid? After doing the preparation work above, you can formally begin. Put the decomposed pine bark into the flower pot, adding an amount that makes the original Cymbidium orchid potting soil level with the rim of the pot. Then fill decomposed pine bark around the edges, filling it full so that the roots and growing medium are in full contact.

After that, repotting is complete. Isn't it simple? And because boiled pine bark is used, you do not need to water. For the growing medium, pure pine bark is enough, and no other additions are needed. That is all for the content on repotting Cymbidium orchids. I hope it can be of help to everyone.