Heres what you’re gonna wanna know about cutting orchid stems.
Should You Cut Off the Orchid Stem After the Flowers Die?
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Orchids That Bloom Once
The stems of most orchids only flower once.
Remove any dried, brown, or yellow parts above the nodes and continue watching the stem.
The second flush of flowers is often not as strong as the first and the flowers are smaller.
The Spruce / Valerie de Leon
Reblooming also stresses plants that are not strong and healthy.
The third punch in of pruning is done after the bloom to remove the flower stems.
Always use sharp, sterilized scissors or pruning shears.
The Spruce / Valerie de Leon
Make a clean, concise cut 1/2 inch above this node.
Cut back spent flower spikes to just above the first set of leaves on the pseudobulb.
Gently pick the flowers off of the orchid or cut them with sharp, sterilized scissors or pruning shears.
Brown or yellow dry stems simply indicate that the flowering period on those stems is over.
Where Do I Cut the Flower Spike When It Is Finished?American Orchid Society.
