Orchid stems and leaves are simple, but they still need timely pruning after flowering for more and more beautiful blooms next time

Orchids have simple stems and leaves, which often makes people forget that they also need pruning and tidying. Especially after the flowering period, the flower stalks, yellow leaves and old roots should all be cut off before you can look forward to the next flower stalk growing long and producing beautiful flowers. For routine orchid pruning, generally cut off old leaves promptly when they turn yellow and withered, to improve ventilation, and the dried tips of some leaves should also be cut off. In particular, leaves damaged by pests and diseases need to be removed promptly to avoid spreading. When cutting off leaves with viral disease, do not use the same scissors to cut healthy leaves, to prevent the virus from spreading. If the same pair of scissors is used, it must be disinfected.

After the flower buds of precious orchids emerge from the soil, if there are too many flower buds, keep the strong buds and remove the remaining thin, small flower buds; it is advisable to keep 1-2 flower buds per pot. If there are too many flower buds, it will not only make that year's flowers bloom poorly, but also consume too much of the parent plant's nutrients and affect the next year's flowering. Generally, orchids do not need their flower buds cut off.

The flowers of Cymbidium goeringii (spring orchid) bloom for about half a month, after which the flowers need to be cut off; for Cymbidium ensifolium (summer orchid), when the last flower on the inflorescence has been open for a week, the inflorescence should also be cut off. Precious varieties should not be allowed to be pollinated and set seed, otherwise it will affect the next year's flowering. If they are used for hybrid breeding, they then need extra care in cultivation so that the fruit is plump and ripe.

For orchids that grow poorly, with few leaves per clump, or with poor roots, in addition to routine pruning, flower thinning should also be done. For better varieties, Cymbidium goeringii (spring orchid) can appropriately have 1-2 flower buds removed, and for Cymbidium ensifolium (summer orchid), when the buds elongate, keep 1-2 buds and remove the rest; this way the flowers can last longer, more new leaves can grow, and the old leaves are less likely to wither and die.

1. Leaves that have turned yellow should be cut off at any time.

2. After the flowers fade, the spent flower stalks can be cut off.

3. When new roots are found growing on the orchid, any flat, dried old roots you see can be cut off.