Should I Deadhead My Orchid?

Facts

• In the wild, orchid blooms fall off the plant with normal wind, decay and help from insects and birds. Since your home's normal conditions limit the likelihood of the bloom falling off the plant quickly on its own, your indoor potted orchid will do best with a deadheading.

Instructions

• Wait until the plant's bloom has completely withered and has turned browned. Grip the stem below the spent bloom and gently pull upward, taking the bloom with you. Discard the dead bloom in the trash and inspect the area for any dropped or broken pieces. Parts of the plant left behind on the potting mix may mold and bring disease to the plant so they must be removed.

Alternate Methods

• If you aren't comfortable pinching off the bloom, trim off spent blooms with a pair of sterilized scissors, making the cut several inches below the original bloom. Seal up the stem wound with melted candle wax to limit the likelihood of bacterial infection, suggests the Beautiful Orchids website.

After-Care

• Resume caring for your orchid as normal, giving it adequate light and moisture as needed for your specific orchid variety. Removing the bloom doesn't ensure a quick re-blooming; some orchids bloom only once a year while others bloom several times a year.