How to Remove Dead Blossoms From Orchids

Plants in the orchid family require a little extra care compared to other houseplants. They need high humidity but prefer not to have wet feet -- roots -- and are often particular about the amount of light they need, which varies from species to species. Orchids have three petals, including one extra-large, or distinctly shaped, petal at the bottom of the flower known as the lip, and three sepals. In most plants, the sepals, which support and protect the petals, are green; in orchids, the sepals look like smaller petals. Although the blooms are long-lasting, persisting from one to three months, once they are spent, you should remove them.

Sharp pair of small scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Identify the genus of orchid you have. For most people, that information will be on the tag that comes with the plant. If you have no tag, you should take the plant to a specialist for identification. Alternatively, take a photo and send it to an orchid expert or your local university extension and ask for help.
- 2
  Remove the spent blooms of a Phalaenopsis genus orchid by situating the open blades of the scissors directly beneath the bottom flower on the stalk after all the flowers on the stalk have faded.
- 3
  Look carefully at the flower stalk to ensure that your scissors are above the first node below the bottom flower.
- 4
  Close the blades of the scissors swiftly to ensure that you cut, rather than mash, the stalk, severing the faded blooms. Orchids from the Phalaenopsis genus often rebloom, growing another flower stalk from the node you cut above. If you damage the node, the orchid is unlikely to rebloom until the next blooming season.
- 5
  Remove the flower stalk down at the bottom by the basal leaf for all other genus of orchids, using the same deadheading method as for a Phalaenopsis orchid.

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