When To Snip and Prune A Phalaenopsis?

by Olivia
(North Carolina)

My roommate and I just bought a Phal. Right now she has 7 flower blossoms and 2 buds. A new bud blooms approximately every week for the past month. Basically we have been misting buds and leaves multiple times a day to maintain a high-humidity environment. We water her pot once a week. One of the oldest blooms has wilted. We need instructions on how to go about pruning our orchid. Do we snip off the faded blooms once they are wilted or do we wait until all of the blooms have wilted to clip the entire stem? And how do we go about pruning the stem in general?

One other questions, one of the tips of her leaves has barely split at the tip. It is a vertical split that looks like it may continue down the seam of the leaf. Will this in a sense "grow back together" or will it eventually die? And if it dies will another one grow back?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

I was having trouble with the picture uploader. If you need pictures, I would be happy to email them. Just let me know.

Comments for When To Snip and Prune A Phalaenopsis?

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Oct 13, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		How And When To Prune A Phalaenopsis
by: Melissa

Hi Olivia,

Thanks for your question. It is the same one others have asked essentially so you may wish to look at some of the other titles of questions in this section.

I apologize. I was sure I had answered this one but it appears that I did not.

What you describe is normal behavior (when the buds open etc.) for a healthy Phal.

And it sounds like you are doing a pretty good job of maintaining it. I am not a big fan of misting especially the buds as it encourages fungal infections. I rarely do it and only in the morning so that the plant has time to dry. I increase the humidity by using humidity trays. But that was not your question. ;-)

Your question was:

"Do we snip off the faded blooms once they are wilted or do we wait until all of the blooms have wilted to clip the entire stem?"

With the faded blooms they will often just fall off. I sometimes will pinch one using my fingernail (or you could use clippers) after it has wilted just to keep the rest of the floral sprig looking its best.

"And how do we go about pruning the stem in general?"

You can either cut it above a node when all the flowers are gone. This will force the node to send out another spike (more than likely) and will cause the plant to be in flower a month or two earlier than if it initiated a complete spike on its own. See the other questions on this thread to read about this in more detail. I do this sometimes but it is a little harder on the plant. So I only do it with healthy plants or ones that I absolutely have to see in flower again.

Or you can cut the spent spike about one half inch from the crown.

Your other questions:

"One of the tips of her leaves has barely split at the tip. It is a vertical split that looks like it may continue down the seam of the leaf. Will this in a sense "grow back together" or will it eventually die?

It will not grow back together. I am not entirely sure but I think that this is a humidity issue. (Not enough.) Try putting it on a humidity tray. There is a page on ones that I sell or how to do it with saucers and pebbles. Check it out.

I do see Phals. do this from time to time. Often the leaf will stay that way for a long time (years). But it will eventually die.

"And if it dies will another one grow back?"

No, it will not grow back as you say. But it may, and should grow new leaves from the center of the crown. Mostly Phals. will start growing new leaves (one at a time) from the crown when the flowering cycle is finished.

Sorry you were having trouble with the picture uploader. If you want to send me pictures contact me through the contact page on the website. Identify your self and your question and I can get them by email.

Hope this is helpful. Do read the other questions on when/where to prune Phals.

Good luck,

Melissa
www.orchids-plus-more.com

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Phalaenopsis Orchid Care.