Q&A for How to Prune Orchids

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How do you care for orchids?

Monique Capanelli
Plant Specialist
Monique Capanelli is a Plant Specialist and the Owner and Designer for Articulture Designs, an innovative design firm and boutique in Austin, Texas. With over 15 years of experience, Monique specializes in interior botanical design, living walls, event decor, and sustainable landscape design. She attended the University of Texas at Austin. Monique is a Certified Permaculture Designer. She provides plant and botanical design experiences, from small gifts to entire transformations, to shoppers as well as commercial clients including Whole Foods Market and The Four Seasons.

Monique Capanelli

Plant Specialist

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My orchids have feeler roots. Can I safely cut them off?

Ninox

Top Answerer

No, orchids grow feeler roots when they need more humidity. If you cut them, the plant is in danger of dying.

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When should orchids be pruned?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

You should wait until all of the flowers fall off of a stem before you prune it. Pruning it while it's still blooming or there are healthy flowers on the stem can damage it. If a stem is brown, cut it down to the level of the soil.

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Where do you cut an orchid after the flowers fall off?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Once all of the flowers fall off of a stem, find a node under where the lowest flower was blooming. Trim just above the node with an angled cut. If the stem is brown or yellowing, cut all the way down to the base of the plant.

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Do you water an orchid after the flowers fall off?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

No, you only need to water your orchid when the soil feels dry. Orchids can rot and die if you water them too much, so always check the soil first. The flowers falling off are not an indication that the orchid needs water.

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My phalaenopsis orchid hasn't bloomed for nearly a year. The leaves are dark green and healthy looking. Can I cut some of the leaves to encourage flowering?

Community Answer

Insufficient light is the most common cause of failure to re-bloom your orchid.The lush, rich, dark green of most houseplants is not desirable in orchid leaves. A grassy green color (light or medium green with yellowish tones) means the plant is receiving sufficient light to bloom.

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My orchid has weird looking fingers growing out from it. They are not straight. They are a brighter green color. Can I cut them off?

Liora

Community Answer

No, you should not cut them off. They are the orchid's air roots. They are not supposed to be straight.

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I received an orchid as a gift. It has several feeler roots exposed and hanging over the edge of the pot. They look healthy, so should I leave them alone or does it need to be repotted?

Liora

Community Answer

Those are the orchid's air roots. They are supposed to hang out of the pot. Leave them alone.

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