Should You Cut the Stem of Your Orchid If the Flowers Die?

Because orchids bloom for months, they might give the impression that their flowering period never ends but it does. And if you are new to orchids, you then face the question of how to care for the plant after it’s done flowering, especially whether you should cut off the stem.

Here’s what you need to know about cutting orchid stems. 

Should You Cut Off the Orchid Stem After the Flowers Die?

Generally, the stem of orchids should be removed but this needs to be done at the correct time and the right way to ensure future bloom. While cutting off the orchid stem after the blooming period is over is part of the routine orchid care, you need to look at your orchid to determine whether to cut the stem off right away or wait.

Stems that have turned yellow or brown should be cut off right away while stems that are still green should be pruned only selectively as described below. 

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What to Do With an Orchid After the Flowers Die

The course of action after the flowers on your orchid are spent depends on the type of orchid you have. Even if you are unsure about the orchid type, how the stem looks will give you clues about what to do.

Orchids That Bloom Once

The stems of most orchids only flower once. After the bloom, there are no more nodes on the stem; the stems dry up and turn brown and green. 

Cut the entire stem off above the base where the stem emerges, using sharp, sterilized scissors or pruning shears. That way, the orchid plant puts all its energy back into growing leaves and roots and eventually producing a new stem that will flower. 

Reblooming Orchids

Phalaenopsis (moth) orchids, Psychopsis (butterfly) orchids, and some Dendrobium orchids potentially rebloom. These orchids bloom again from the same stem and still have nodes on their stem(s). If the stem is still green after the bloom, check it for any unused nodes (green and plump bumps) on the flower spikes. 

Cut the stem back just above the node, which may encourage the orchid to generate new side flower spikes. Remove any dried, brown, or yellow parts above the nodes and continue watching the stem. Eventually, after blooming repeatedly, the stem will also turn brown and dry, and at that point, you should cut it back to the base. 

The second flush of flowers is often not as strong as the first and the flowers are smaller. Reblooming also stresses plants that are not strong and healthy. Therefore, it might be better to remove the entire stalk, which gives the plant the chance to recover before the next regular blooming period. 

When and How to Prune an Orchid

Pruning orchids roughly falls into three different types, and each is done at a different time.

The first type of pruning is the removal of diseased or damaged plant parts; doing this promptly as soon as you notice a problem is key, as fungal diseases in orchids can spread quickly.

The second type of pruning is routine plant care year-round and consists of removing spent flowers, dead leaves, and aerial roots that are no longer viable, or long and trailing roots in sympodial orchids.

The third type of pruning is done after the bloom to remove the flower stems.

Where and How to Cut

The method of cutting the flower stems of monopodial orchids (orchids with a single upright stem) is different from the method for sympodial orchids (which grow horizontally). Always use sharp, sterilized scissors or pruning shears.

Monopodial orchids: To cut off an entire flowering stem that no longer has any nodes on it, make a clean, concise cut leaving just one inch of spike attached to the stem. To partially remove a flowering stem of a reblooming orchid, find the node below the lowest spent or faded flower. Make a clean, concise cut 1/2 inch above this node.

Sympodial orchids: Flower spikes on sympodial orchids lack leaves so you need to be careful not to cut below the leaves, or you will damage the pseudobulb (which looks like a flower bulb) and reduce the bloom in the next season. Cut back spent flower spikes to just above the first set of leaves on the pseudobulb.

FAQ

• Yes, if the dead, spent orchid flowers don’t drop on their own, it is recommended to remove them to avoid the potential spread of diseases. Gently pick the flowers off of the orchid or cut them with sharp, sterilized scissors or pruning shears.

• No, if the foliage of the orchid is green, the presence of a brown stem (or stems) does not mean that the orchid is dead. Brown or yellow dry stems simply indicate that the flowering period on those stems is over.

• The flower stems grow from between the leaves at the center line of the leaf whereas the roots grow from the sides.