After that point, you can plant the orchid outdoors. I cut it about half an inch from the base. Cut back on the watering leaving the soil only partly moist. Make your cut at an angle of about 45 degrees with a sharp, un-serrated knife. In order to insure your plant will bloom in time for Christmas, you will need to give the plant a rest period. Cutting the stem at an angle allows the flower to absorb the water easier. Cutting Orchid Roots. Grasp one side of the sliced stem and twist backward. Remove all of the leaves from each stem. It is necessary to transplant the orchid into a fresh substrate and water a maximum of 1 time per week. Cut about an inch off the bottom of the stem. Remove any covering they may be wrapped in. If you can't find any that is made for cactus you can mix two parts regular potting soil with one part coarse sand. Two-Year AOS members also receive over $600 worth of coupons from the ELITE Marketplace Partners. Immediately place the cut stems back into the bucket of water. If you are an AOS member, you also save 5% from every vendor. Trim your orchid just above the node on the stem directly below where the first flower bloomed. A high quality cactus mix is great. The second option is to cut the stem off at its base, preserving the plant’s valuable energy for new leaf and root growth. Orchid care after blooming involves cutting the flower spike back, repotting if necessary, adding fertilizer, moving the orchid to a cooler temperature, and decreasing the amount of water. To cut the dead stem, hold the sheath together with the stem and cut through them both. Trimming of orchid roots should be done when re-potting the plant. If you cut a leaf with a knife, you’ll see a triangular cross-section. The stem, rhizomes, and flower spikes of an orchid will be replaced by a new stem or even a new plant. Early Bloom Dropping – one of the most common problems owners face after repotting an orchid while it is in bloom is that the blooms will drop. Cut back on the watering leaving the soil only partly moist. Option #1 – (THIS IS THE METHOD I USE) Cut the orchid stem at its base, way down by the leaves. As a result, the orchid’s leaves turn yellow, lose their elasticity, and the root system decreases. I have a phalaenopsis the from the end of a bloom stem an another plant started to grow. Discover the top vendors in the orchid community and their special offers on all things orchid. Increase Humidity Levels For Your Phalaenopsis Orchid. The most important things in getting your orchid to bloom is proper light. By cutting the shoot back entirely it allows the plant to gather more energy for a greater bloom next year. After 1-2 more weeks, move the orchid into an area where it receives sun before 10 am and after 2 pm. Eventually, the foliage will dry out and you should see new bulbs forming. ... Now it is a full blown orchid with roots and healthy, it now is throwing out more leaves. Do NOT cut off any leaves at this time. Can I cut it off and repot it. If you can't find any that is made for cactus you can mix two parts regular potting soil with one part coarse sand. The process of cutting off the roots is the same in all varieties. Next, using heavy clippers, recut the stem ends, then slice vertically up the stem 1-2 inches. I am afraid to damage it. A high quality cactus mix is great. Why Orchid Stems Turn Brown. I did want to mention one last thing that is very important for moth orchid care, and that is fertilization. Then, after a week, move your orchid into an area with 3-4 hours of morning and evening sun. It’ll be super helpful. You need to allow them to grow and ripen for several months until the next dormancy period. Start with 1-2 hours of morning and evening sun a day. The site of the cut often becomes the point at which a new stem or stems will grow. Phalaenopsis orchids in the vegetative phase will benefit from a more humid environment than during the flowering phase. The pseudobulbs are the defining features of this orchid with their round and circular and wrinkly shape that may look old or dehydrated. Cooler nighttime temperatures in the Fall will also help to encourage a flower spike. Once the flower stems (spikes) have been cut off, there isn’t a way to regrow a plant from there. You should trim the stem of a phalaenopsis orchid after blooming has finished. To start, you’re going to want to clip the dead flower off of the stem once your tulips have finished flowering for the first time. The buds on the orchid will then wither and fall off rather than blooming into the truly magnificent blossoms that orchids are renowned for. Gently grasp the orchid by the stem and carefully maneuver it out of the pot. An orchid stem, or flower spike, is the tall green part of the orchid that bears its beautiful blooms. Log in to Reply. I’m sorry to say that you aren’t going to be able to grow new roots on a cut orchid stem whether you plant it in soil or keep it in a glass of water. ... cut the stem in an angled fashion a little bit above the node. Give it a clean cut using a sharp tool making sure not to damage the pseudobulb or the leaves. ... Cut the stem all the way down to the base of the plant. A little is a little – ¼ inch at most. Each spike bears several small flowers resembling the oncidium dancing lady. When an orchid is finished flowering, it is normal for these spikes to turn brown. The foliage that remains can just be allowed to die off naturally while keeping the stem in a glass vase with water. Allow the stems to take up more water in a cool, dark place for another one to two hours. To help you further, start by downloading my free cheat sheet to see where to cut the orchid flower spike after blooms have faded to trigger re-blooming. After you cut off the spent flowers and flower stalks, this will be the growing phase for your plant. The original florist cut is now old, and the flower may not be taking up the water it needs to live. The spikes are long and grow from the plant’s base. I normally cut the stem above the 3rd or 4th node, depending on the height of the stem. I always use this option because I am looking for a fuller bloom in the coming year. In order to insure your plant will bloom in time for Christmas, you will need to give the plant a rest period. The flooded roots are cut off from the air, due to which the roots cease to receive water and nutrients. Click here, for the cheat sheet.