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Orchids: How to Cut Back the Stalk
Orchids: How to Cut Back the Stalk. Orchids represent a wide variety of plants that have different colors and bloom times. However, one thing that all orchids have in common is that the blooms develop atop tall, central stalks. These stalks are quite impressive when the orchid is in full bloom, but not very attractive once the blooms fade away....
Orchids represent a wide variety of plants that have different colors and bloom times. However, one thing that all orchids have in common is that the blooms develop atop tall, central stalks. These stalks are quite impressive when the orchid is in full bloom, but not very attractive once the blooms fade away. After the orchid blooms drop, you can cut back the stalk to improve the appearance of the remaining foliage.
Things You'll Need
Hand pruners or a scalpel
Cinnamon
Wait until the flower blossoms wilt and fall off the central orchid stalk and then wait until the stalk turns yellow or brown. The time for this to occur varies based on species.
Hold back the lower foliage of the orchid with one hand and trace the dead central stalk back to where it emerges from the center of the orchid plant.
Measure up approximately 1 inch from the base of the stem and cut the stalk off using pruning shears or a scalpel, making the cut straight across the top. Do not prune lower than 1 inch above the base or you may injure the other foliage or the base of the orchid plant.
Sprinkle 1/2 tsp. of ground cinnamon in your hand and cover the cut end of the orchid stem with the cinnamon, which acts as a natural fungicide to prevent infection.
Tips & Warnings
Some varieties of orchids bloom multiple times on the same stalk. Thus, leaving the stalk on the plant until it turns yellow ensures that you do not cut it off before it reblooms.
If you are unsure whether your orchid will rebloom, examine the green stem to see if there are small green bumps, which are nodes. Cut the green stem off 1/4 inch above a node. If the stalk turns yellow instead of reflowering, cut it back to the base of the plant.
Some orchid plants do not rebloom, but do produce small bulbs at the base of the stalk, which can be removed and planted.
