Orchid Pruning Tips
Today, I will introduce topics related to orchids, a member of the Orchidaceae family, focusing on orchid pruning. The following are the details:
Many orchid enthusiasts need to understand some aspects of orchid pruning. Pruning orchid leaves is actually very important and should be done continuously during cultivation. When there are old or yellow leaves, they should be cut off promptly to allow for better ventilation. Some leaves with dried leaf tips should also be trimmed, and leaves with diseases or pests should be removed immediately to prevent the spread of infections.
Before pruning orchid leaves, it is necessary to disinfect the pruning shears with antiseptic solution or alcohol. When pruning yellow leaves (since they are dead and do not contain pathogens), there is no need to disinfect after each cut. You can continue pruning. When pruning black leaves (a common term for several diseased leaves), many orchid enthusiasts are very careful and disinfect after each cut, which is effective but time-consuming. The method is to cut off about 1 centimeter of the green leaf at the junction of the black leaf and the green leaf, because the green leaf has not yet developed the disease and does not contain pathogens, so it will not get infected. If you are still unsure, after all pruning is done, you can disinfect the entire orchid with a fungicide. To achieve a more aesthetic effect, try to angle the cut with the shears, making it斜 (oblique),尖锐 (sharp), the sharper the better, to make it resemble a natural leaf.
The author thought of another issue during orchid pruning. Most plant leaves are green, and they appear green due to the presence of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a complex organic acid that can carry out photosynthesis to produce nutrients. Chlorophyll itself is rich in various nutrients. Perennial deciduous plants turn their leaves yellow or red at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, and then shed them. Why is that? Plants have an instinct to protect themselves. Before leaves fall, they transport chlorophyll back to the roots for storage, which will be used for the growth of new buds the following year. As chlorophyll is transferred and eventually disappears, the xanthophyll and carotenoids in the leaves become visible. When old leaves turn yellow or red, it means that the nutrients in the leaves are no longer present, indicating that they are truly old and should be removed. This is also true for orchids. When old leaves turn yellow, they can be pruned. For some valuable varieties, which often have poor growth and low propagation rates, with just a few sparse leaves, it is very regrettable to prune old leaves too early, as it would result in the loss of nutrients.
Leaves with diseases or pests are not always cut off. If the damage is minor and can be effectively controlled, there is no need to cut off the entire leaf. For example, scale insects can be effectively killed with pesticides and can also be manually removed. Similarly, black spot disease starts as a brown spot, which gradually expands into an oval or semi-circular patch. The disease progresses slowly, and there are ways to control it. If a spot is found, you can burn it with a match to prevent further issues. For a large number of plants, fungicides can be used for prevention. However, for some orchid diseases that are aggressive and have no effective treatment, the affected leaves should be cut off promptly. These include black rot, which starts as a purple-brown spot on the leaf and then becomes waterlogged, soft, black, and eventually rots and dies; brown rust, which begins as a light brown or orange-yellow spot and then turns into a black patch, eventually causing the entire leaf to die; bacterial soft rot, which starts as a small, waterlogged spot and quickly turns dark green to black-brown, causing rapid withering; and leaf spot disease, which mainly affects new buds, starting as a spot that looks like it has been scalded and quickly spreading to cause the entire bud to rot and die.
Of course, it is necessary to do some cosmetic pruning during the orchid exhibition period.
The above explanations about orchid pruning tips are hoped to bring a little help to your life!