More recently, orchids have been very difficult to meet at someone’s home. They admired, admired, many secretly dreamed about them. But they were afraid to grow at home. In fact, there is nothing complicated. Today, even inexperienced flower growers can easily breed them. This flower, of course, is whimsical, but knowing certain nuances, you can greatly simplify your task.
The most common questions
Flower stalks orchids are waiting with great trepidation. Gorgeous flowers for a long time delight with their unusual appearance. When they fall, the beginner grower has many questions. Why does the flower stalk not dry and how to care for it? What to do if the arrow starts to dry and when it can be cut? As you can see, there are a lot of nuances, so let's talk about everything in order.
Purpose of a flower-bearing shoot
The peduncle of an orchid is a temporary process on which buds are formed, and later inflorescences are placed. The plant releases it after a period of rest, when it will rest and gain strength. After the appearance of the peduncle, the flowering process begins. That is, buds are formed that grow, develop, and then bloom.
In fact, this completes the work of the orchid peduncle. But if the arrow is green and healthy, then you do not need to trim it. New flowers or babies may appear on it soon. In principle, any of these options may suit the grower.
Norm Option
The drying process means the loss of stiffness and elasticity of the peduncle. At the same time, his appearance changes first. The green color gradually fades. The peduncle becomes brown, then purple. The dried part of the plant ceases to absorb moisture. In the damaged area, photosynthesis ceases, and death gradually occurs. This is actually a normal process. If the peduncle of the orchid begins to turn yellow after flowering, there is nothing to worry about. The flowers simply withered, and the peduncle became unnecessary.
The situation is worse if the peduncle dries up, and at the same time, buds form on it. In this case, the flowers simply do not have a chance to please you with their beautiful corollas. Then there are reasons to think and analyze the conditions in which the orchid grows. It will not be superfluous to review the rules of care.
Causes of drying of the peduncle
In some cases, this is a natural process that cannot go otherwise. In others, the flower stalk dries out under the influence of various factors:
- Faded orchid stalks should dry out about 4 to 6 months after the start of growth. This is a normal occurrence. If the flowering is not finished, and the arrow has already turned yellow, then pay attention to the location of the plant. An orchid is considered shade-loving, but this does not mean that it does not need sunlight. If it is not enough, then the peduncles dry out. But it is fair to say that bright lighting will also be harmful to the plant. Scorching rays can leave thermal burns. In summer, the pot is best set at partial shade.
- Excess or malnutrition. Both options are not optimal. But more often than not, they feed the orchid. It should be borne in mind that the frequent use of mineral fertilizers does more harm than good. In this case, the plant ceases to bloom for a long time. Therefore, if the orchid has dried flower stalk, then the first thing to do is reconsider your feeding schedule.
- Air humidity. High or low humidity in the room will also affect the growth and development of the peduncle.
- Overheating of the roots. Despite the fact that the homeland of this plant is the tropics, placing it on a radiator in a heating system is a mistake.
- Stress. Orchid does not like moving from room to room, and especially radical changes in location, where air and temperature will differ from the usual.
Transfer
This is an extreme measure, which is most often necessary to save the plant. Therefore, pay attention to this item if the peduncle of an orchid has suddenly dried up. What to do in this case? You need to make sure that your plant does not suffer from root rot. Inspect the roots through the transparent walls of the pot. Greens are healthy roots. If they are silver, then the orchid is resting. But brown and black color indicate that the peduncle has been discarded due to a serious illness. You need to immediately shake the plant out of the pot and let it dry, then transplant it into new soil.
When to crop an arrow
So, suppose that your plant is doing well, and for a long time it has pleased you with bright corollas. The ideal time for pruning dry flower stalks is a period of rest. In this case, you can be sure that the orchid is resting and will not bloom for now. Usually this is mid or late autumn.
Despite the time frame, it is worth noting that the peduncle of an orchid after flowering can be pruned only after it has completely dried out so that no living buds remain. If you cut it alive, then you risk harming the plant and weakening it.
Procedure
If the peduncle is still green, but its tip begins to turn yellow, then only the dried crown is cut off. To do this, you need a pruner or a sharp knife. All tools must be sanitized in advance.
- Carefully trim the entire dry part of the plant.
- Leave a stump no more than 2 cm.
- Live environments need to be sprinkled with an antiseptic.
- A week you can’t water the flower.
It is best to lower the temperature after removing the peduncle to +20 degrees. Eliminate intense lighting and do not feed. This time should be a real period of rest. Then soon you will once again see how an orchid releases a flower stalk. At first glance, this is similar to the formation of new aerial roots. But they tend down, and the peduncle quickly rises.
Orchid propagation
If you have these magnificent plants at home, then you probably have to deal with requests to share the baby. From time to time they appear on the peduncle. A baby orchid may also appear on the stem or at the root. There are no special conditions for this. You just need to provide the plant with normal care, and it will appear by itself.
The most important rule is sufficient humidity and high temperature in the room. With dry air, conditions for the formation of the baby will not arise. If the conditions are ideal, then soon after flowering from any bud on the arrow leaves will begin to form. Usually the baby releases its own roots. In this case, you need to wait until they grow up, and then plant the young orchid in a separate pot.
We stimulate the plant
Sometimes an orchid refuses to give children for a long time. Then you can resort to some tricks.
- After flowering, the arrow must be shortened 2 to 3 cm above the upper bud.
- Organize temperature changes: at night to +15, and during the day - to +30.
- The room must be high humidity.
- Pot choose a small, well-permeable air and moisture.
- Watering should be drastically reduced by three weeks.
All this stimulates the plant to multiply. But if you want to get a young baby for sure, then use hormonal cytokinin paste. It helps to awaken the sleeping buds of plants and promotes the formation of shoots. To do this, first find the bud on the peduncle and clean it of scales. Gently apply ointment to it. Now we need to wait and maintain optimal conditions for growth and development. It is best to carry out this procedure in early spring, during the period of awakening and growth of plants.
Instead of a conclusion
If you have recently purchased an orchid, then you are surely waiting for the first flowers with bated breath. No less interesting is the possibility of getting kids. After all, this will provide an opportunity to make a unique gift to someone from loved ones. Simple rules will help you understand what is happening with the tropical beauty. Is the drying of the peduncle the norm, or a sign of illness. In addition, the grower must know about the rules of care after releasing the arrow, as well as after cutting it. This provides a key to understanding capricious orchids. So, you will always have beautiful and bright flowers on the window.