Phalaenopsis orchid blooms look like large moths, hence their nickname.
Moth orchids, from the Phalaenopsis group, bear large, flat and open blooms in a rainbow of colors and patterns. These low-light, warm-growing orchids thrive in indoor situations to bloom from April to June. Phalaenopsis flowers grow 3 to 4 inches in diameter and sit in stacks on long, graceful flower stalks. Careful in-season pruning encourages reblooming on these elegant plants. Prune your orchid based on the stalk's health. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Prune moth orchids when all flowers fade and fall off. This indicates the end of the flower flush. Pruning at this time mimics deadheading on standard garden flowers.
2. Cut the orchid stalk halfway down to encourage reblooming. Alternatively, cut off only the dried, dead part of the stalk, or make a cut 1 inch above the next "unused" joint. New growth appears at this node in the form of new blooms or a new side shoot.
3. Cut off the entire stalk if it dries and withers or rots. Make this cut 1 inch above the crown. The plant produces a new flower stalk in this situation.
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