With its bulbs covered all over with flowers, the Dendrobium orchid steals the show even from the ever-popular Phalaenopsis. In the uncomplicated care program, beginners sense a gardening stumbling block when it comes to cutting. These instructions get to the heart of how to cut the grape orchid professionally.
How do I cut a dendrobium orchid correctly?
Prune Dendrobium orchids by not cutting off green leaves and bulbs, picking off withered flowers and removing dead, dried bulbs. In addition, only cut aerial roots when they are dead and disinfect cuts with charcoal ash.
Basic rule serves as guidance
Pruning a dendrobium is based on a simple basic rule that eliminates any horticultural uncertainty. If you keep the following premises in mind, you will always cut your grape orchid correctly:
- Do not cut off green leaves and bulbs
- Ideally pick off withered flowers
As long as a part of your Dendrobium orchid is still green, it fulfills an important function in plant metabolism. If green leaves or shoots are removed, this intervention weakens the grape orchid and puts the next flowering period at risk.
Cut the wilted grape orchid or not?
At the end of the flowering period, the pseudobulbs initially appear without flowers and later without leaves. In this case, please stick to the basic rule. As long as a leafless shoot is still green and vital, there are good prospects of further flowers. Only when a bulb has dried up and died should you cut it off with a clean, sharp knife. The cut wound is dusted with charcoal ash for disinfection.
Cut aerial roots only in exceptional cases
Aerial roots are significantly involved in the supply of your dendrobium, so they are only cut when they are dead. Since their growth differs from the herbaceous parts of the plant, it is not always clear whether the roots are still alive or not. A vitality test sheds light on the matter. This is how it works:
- Scrape off the upper layer of tissue on an affected aerial root with a knife
- Green tissue signals activity
- Brown tissue is dead
If you don't want to attack your grape orchid with a knife, spray the aerial roots with soft water. In addition to the strands turning a green or creamy white color again, scissors or knives are not used.
Tip
For a Dendrobium nobile to produce its flower buds, a cool rest period is important. From October onwards, the rainforest beauty wants to stay at temperatures between 5 and 12 degrees Celsius. At the same time, it is only watered rarely so that the root ball does not dry out. Without this winter time-out, your grape orchid will not bloom.