Orchid blooms can last for a long time, but for them to rebloom for longer, houseplant retailer Just Add Ice argue that they need to be pruned.
They explained that orchids can “maintain their beautiful bloom display for up to four months”.
Then, as the plant works through its energy stores, the petals will start to fall.
This does not always mean the end of a blooming session, there is a chance to prune your orchid and find that it has enough energy to produce a few more blooms before it needs a rest again.
Trimming unhealthy or dead structures on your orchid can help it conserve energy and redirect growth into more aesthetically pleasing directions.
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It can also shift the plant from one growth stage to another, prevent bacterial or fungal infections, and more.
The experts said: “Orchid pruning is one of the things you can do to encourage reblooming for longer, but this should only be done after all of the orchid blooms have fallen and the flowering stem starts to change colours.”
Where you cut your orchid’s stem is also considered an “extremely important” aspect when getting the houseplant to bloom.
Start by inspecting the orchid stem as every few inches along its length, you will notice a “papery bract” that surrounds the stem.
If you gently feel around the bracts, you will feel small bumps, called nodes. It’s the new stems that emerge from these nodes.
If all of the blooms have fallen and you successfully located the second bract from the base, grab some sterile scissors or secateurs and follow these steps to “prune orchids without killing them”.
Carefully cut off the orchid stem a half inch to an inch above the second bract above the orchid’s base. In six weeks, if your orchid has enough energy in reserve, “you should notice a new stalk growing from the node”.
Place the houseplant near a north or east-facing window so that it gets plenty of bright, indirect light.
Make sure to set the thermostat correctly so that your orchid will be exposed to cooler temperatures at night. Or move it to a cooler spot each night.
Phalaenopsis orchids require a 10 to 15 degree temperature drop at night for new flowering stem or branch and bud instigation.
The experts recommend watering orchids once a week with three ice cubes.
Once or twice a month during spring and summer, fertilise your orchid with a small amount of 20-20-20 fertiliser, diluted to one-quarter strength. Or buy an orchid-specific fertiliser and apply as recommended by the manufacturer.
