Cut from an inch above the node. As it grows back, it will have stronger roots, bigger leaves and larger blooms. When the last flower fades, you can leave the spike (stem) on and it will still continue flowering but the stem gets very ungainly and the flowers get smaller. Moth orchids sometimes bloom again from the same spike after the flowers fall off. Some people believe it is best to cut off the stem entirely at the base where it comes out of the leaves, and it will bloom again in several months. An orchid spike is the long stalky part of the plant where the leaves and the flowers are attached to. This orchid provides purplish blooms in early spring and lush green leaves in summer. Dendrobium Orchid. The third option is to cut off … 2 Make a cut about 1 or 2 inches above the base of the orchid's stem using a sterile knife or scissors. If a spike is not cut back, it usually starts to yellow and wither as the plant removes energy from the area. After flowers fall off, use a sterile razor blade to cut the flower spike and discard the tool after a single use. Cut the spike. Use a pair of sharp pruning shears to cut off the stem just below the lowest bloom and just above the nearest node (the joint or swollen area on the stem that produces new flowers). This can induce a secondary spike – which is like a branch on the spike – giving you more flowers. Here’s how to care for Phalaenopsis orchids after they bloom. Dendrobium Orchid. Now my flowers have fallen off. We get lots of questions about Dendrobium spikes.Dendrobiums are very diverse anatomically and I suspect many folks simply aren't sure where the spike ends and the stem begins. An orchid eye is a tiny bulb or scale at the base of a stem. Coworker said I could save it but even from the start straight from the store I noticed my stem was brown. After a Phalaenopsis orchic flowers, many growers will diagonally cut the stem right above the eye. Finally, I decided to repot. A typical orchid plant can bloom again and again as long as it has healthy flower spikes to bear it. They indulge us with their beauty for weeks, sometimes months. But I noticed the soil was so wet I cut back on watering to 2 weeks. When the last flower fades, you can leave the spike (stem) on and it will still continue flowering but the stem gets very ungainly and the flowers get smaller. If your orchid is a Dendrobium type, trimming is a little different. The best way to cut orchid plants when they are young is to trim the stalk all the way back to one inch from the base of the plant. After the flowers drop from the orchid you have three choices: leave the flower spike (or stem) intact, cut it back to a node, or remove it entirely. Two are wilted bit I was told to not pick or cut them but to let them naturally fall off. Check if the stem is still green and plump. Learn more about different orchid parts here. Cut back flower stems after the blooms fade, trimming to above budding leaves. But what should you do after the last flowers fall off from your orchid plant? "Dead head" or prune any stems with dead flowers on healthy orchids. Wait for the orchid's flowers to fade and fall off the plant. If your orchid is a Dendrobium type, trimming is a little different. Optionally, you can disinfect a cutting tool with alcohol or flame it to kill germs. This allows the moth orchid to produce more flowers before entering a brief dormancy period. Wait for the orchid's flowers to fade and fall off the plant. After the flowers fall off the stem starts to die, the stalk is ready to be cut at the base. Once the flowers fall off the spikes of most orchid plants, the spikes may be cut back to the base of the plants with a clean pair of shears or a knife.