Farmer orchids have become a trend. They can also be grown in partially shaded locations and require little care. In addition to watering and fertilizing, you should think about cutting back after flowering. The plant then has more strength for a second flowering period.
When and how should you cut back a farmer's orchid?
To properly prune a farmer's orchid, remove dried and diseased shoots after the first flowering. This will encourage further branching of the shoots and a second period of flowering. Also prune if the plant is too dense, wearing gloves as the plant is poisonous.
Prune the farmer's orchid for more beautiful flowers
Farmer orchids delight the garden owner in spring with their many colorful flowers. The flowering period lasts almost the entire summer. However, you should cut back the ornamental plant after the first flowering phase.
By cutting back, you encourage further branching of the shoots, which in turn will produce new flowers. In addition, after removing old inflorescences, the plant has more strength to produce new flowers.
After the second flowering period, leave a few dry inflorescences standing. You can harvest seeds from it that you can sow indoors in the fall or directly outdoors from April onwards.
- Pruning after the first flowering
- cut off diseased shoots
- lighten if necessary
- Pull up farmer's orchid in autumn
Cut off dried and diseased shoots
In general, the farmer orchid is an easy-care plant that does not often suffer from diseases and pests. However, if the plant is kept too moist or the farmer orchids are placed too close together outdoors or in containers, fungal diseases can occur.
If the ornamental plant develops a lot of dry leaves or rotting shoots, you should cut it back to save it from dying. Thin out plants that are too dense.
If the farmer's orchid is outdoors, simply pull it out in the fall. The plant, also known as the split flower, cannot be grown as a perennial, but only as an annual.
Attention: Farmer orchids are poisonous
Farmer orchids are poisonous in all parts of the plant. They contain various alkaloids that can cause serious poisoning, especially in children and pets.
Therefore, always work with gloves when cutting back. Do not leave any plant parts lying around so that no one can get poisoned. If small children and pets are part of the family, it is better to avoid caring for farmer orchids altogether.
Tip
Farmer orchids should never be planted too close together - neither outdoors nor in pots. Otherwise there is a risk that fungal diseases will spread because moisture from rain or irrigation water cannot dry off properly.
