Orchid is one of the most popular indoor plants. She is demanding about growing conditions and caring for her. Subject to all the rules of agricultural technology, it blooms for a long time. One of them is pruning.
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What is pruning for?
This process is necessary for the plant to stress it out. Experiencing which, the orchid activates all processes, stimulating subsequent flowering. It becomes bright, lush and long lasting.
It is important to carry out the procedure correctly in order to avoid the death of the tropical beauty.
Types of trimming
In order for the plant to direct its forces to the formation of new shoots, only dried and wilted parts are removed from it. They are waiting for the complete end of flowering.
There are two types of trimming:
- Partial. The peduncle is shortened over the sleeping bud, retreating from it 1.5 cm.
- Complete. The peduncle is cut at the base, leaving a stump of a maximum of 2.5 cm in height.
The first option slows down the formation of new shoots. Since the plant spends all its energy on the active development of already formed buds.
Rules of conduct
The plant will more quickly cope with the stress that arose after pruning, if you adhere to certain rules:
- They take a sharp tool so as not to injure the orchid. Pre-disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate, so as not to introduce pathogenic bacteria into the wound and not to provoke a disease.
- Sections are dried and treated with crushed activated carbon or cinnamon. In some species of orchids, the trunk is hollow inside. If water gets into it, it will rot and the process will spread to the entire plant. To avoid this, the place is covered with a small amount of garden varnish.
Orchid care after pruning
At the end of the procedure, the tropical beauty is under extreme stress. If you create optimal conditions for her, she will quickly come to her senses, begin to actively grow.
Most species enter a dormant period. During this time, the plant restores strength, replenishes its energy supply for a new growing season. Depending on the variety, it takes about 2 months. Some plants have a little more or less.
At this moment, a microclimate is created:
- Temperature regime: during the day - no more than 23 ° C. At night - 18 ° C.
- Reduce watering.
- Top dressing is not applied.
- The plant is removed from heating appliances.
- Do not spray.
- Provide diffused lighting.
If the pruning procedure took place in the summer, the orchid must be shaded. At this moment, she is especially sensitive to sunlight. It is obscured by curtains or glued to the glass with a matte film. The procedure helps to avoid sunburn.
Transfer
An exercise is often required after pruning an orchid. For this, a new transparent container is selected, larger than the previous one by 2-3 cm in diameter. The pot should have drainage holes. This will help to avoid stagnant moisture at the roots, which leads to the appearance of rot.
Before planting, the pot is thoroughly disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.
The plant is removed from the old container, carefully rinsed with warm water and examined. Damaged roots and with signs of decay are carefully trimmed with sharp pruning shears. The cut is treated with crushed activated carbon. Dry.
A small layer of drainage is laid out on the bottom of the new pot. Next, the substrate is poured. Ready-made is purchased in specialized stores. Or prepare it yourself. You will need components:
- sphagnum moss;
- bark;
- peat;
- coarse sand.
Orchids are epiphytes. Plants that use the soil only to gain a foothold.
After transplanting, the beauty is not watered for 2 weeks. To maintain optimal humidity, it is enough to periodically spray the leaves. After the plant has adapted and started to grow, they return to their usual conditions.
If all pruning rules are followed, some types of orchids bloom after 2 months. But there are varieties that delight with their delicate flowers only after a year.
Do you grow orchids at home?
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