In the ranking of the most popular orchids for beginners, the wonderful Dendrobium is one of the top favorites. It owes this classification to a combination of breathtaking flowers and uncomplicated care. Read here how to cut the grape orchid correctly.
How do I cut a dendrobium orchid correctly?
To properly prune a Dendrobium orchid, green leaves or shoots should not be removed. Flower stems or leaves may only be cut off when they are completely dead. Wilted flowers can be left to fall off or plucked out.
Correct cutting is based on simple basic rules
No other care issue causes as much headache for orchid lovers as cutting. How good that a tried-and-tested rule of thumb serves as a guide. All other rules for cutting follow this. How to do it right:
- Never cut off green leaves or shoots from a Dendrobium orchid
- Do not remove flower stems or leaves until they are completely dead
- Let withered flowers fall off or pluck out
A grape orchid relies on being able to absorb leftover nutrients from its green plant parts. Therefore, wait for this process to occur at the end of the flowering period. Only when a shoot, a bulb or a leaf has dried out can you cut.
Cut off leafless stems after flowering or not?
At the end of the flowering period, the leafless and flowerless pseudobulbs rightly raise the question of whether they can now be cut off or not. At this point, the rule of thumb explained provides a valuable decision-making aid. As long as the shoot is still green, it has the potential to bloom again. In this case, continue to care for the Dendrobium orchid seamlessly and be patient for a few weeks. If the conditions are right, the plant will put on its flower dress again.
Don’t cut off aerial roots too quickly
Since the aerial roots are not herbaceous parts of the plant, other criteria play a role in the decision about cutting. You can easily determine whether a root strand is still supporting a Dendrobium orchid or has died. To do this, spray the affected aerial root with soft water. If it then turns green again, it must not be cut off.
Tip
To encourage a Dendrobium orchid to bloom lavishly, you can help with a simple trick. When the growth phase ends at the end of August, nighttime temperatures should be reduced by 5 degrees Celsius. This slight fluctuation stimulates bud formation in the long term.
