How to Prune Oncidium Orchids

There are 750 species of oncidium orchids and hybrids, but all have a characteristic long spike that produces small, delicate flowers, often yellow. In their natural habitat, oncidium are epiphytes; they grow on the trunks and branches of trees, obtaining food and moisture from decaying plant matter and the air. When cultivated as houseplants, oncidium need a lot of intense light, occasional repotting and regular, simple pruning to thrive.

Oncidium plant
Orchid pruning shears or sharp scissors
Alcohol
Clean rag

Instructions

- 1
  Prune the plant when it is dry. After watering, let it dry completely so any cuts you make don't become sites for growing fungus or mold.
- 2
  Cut any flowers that begin to dry out, brown or shrivel. Make the cut at the juncture of bloom and stalk.
- 3
  Prune an oncidium spike, the stalk that grows the flowers, at its base when the plant has finished flowering for the season. Be careful not to bruise the plant when removing the spike near the base of the plant. Although some oncidiums will reflower from a trimmed or broken spike, pruning the plant after flowering conserves energy for new growth, ensuring a lush crop of blooms the next time it flowers.
- 4
  Sterilize your pruning shears or sharp scissors by wiping them with an alcohol-soaked cloth. Dry the shears before using them on the plant. Orchids can contract bacterial and fungal infections that are difficult to treat and spread easily. Clean your tools before and after every pruning.
- 5
  Check your oncidium on a regular schedule to ensure it remains in peak condition. Prune any roots that are not fat and whitish green or that have begun to darken or dry. Prune any leaves that turn yellow or brown to remove potential diseases that could kill your plant. Cut unhealthy leaves at the base of the leaf where it joins the plant.

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