Key Takeaways
You can cut the flower stems of moth orchids when they are still green or brown and dead.
Cutting green stems back to a second node has a 50% chance of triggering more blooms.
Pruning the dead stem gives the orchid a longer rest period and a better bloom next year.
After the blooms on your moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) have shriveled and fallen off the plant, you’re left with a long, bare green stem (technically called a spike). Should you cut it off or leave it be? For these orchids, it’s not just about aesthetics. It’s also a strategic decision. How and when to cut a flower spike determines whether your orchid takes a year-long break between blooms, or treats you to a flower encore in a couple of months. Here’s what an orchid expert recommends.
Meet Our Expert
Justin Kondrat is the lead horticulturist at the Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection in Suitland, Maryland.
When to Remove Orchid Flower Stems
It’s OK to leave the spent flower spike on the orchid because it can still photosynthesize while it’s green. A dying, empty flower spike is a different story. Not only does it look messy, but it also takes energy from the plant, explains Justin Kondrat, lead horticulturist at the Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection.
“I recommend cutting the flower spike to the base or at a node as soon as it’s finished blooming so the plant can reset and get back in that rhythm of flowering.”
However, don’t rush it. Wait to cut off the entire stem until the final flower of the season fades and falls off. “Then it’s time to tidy up for the next season,” says Kondrat.
How to Cut Back Orchid Flower Stems
Whenever you cut back flower spikes, use sharp scissors or pruners. If you’re trimming more than one orchid, sterilize your tool with soap and water or rubbing alcohol before you proceed to the next plant. This helps prevent the spread of plant diseases, Kondrat says.
Option A: Cut Back to Second Node
This is the most common way to cut back an orchid flower stem, Kondrat states. It is also the fastest way to get moth orchids (the only orchids that will re-bloom from an existing spike) to rebloom. Cut the spike after it has bloomed but before it has died back.
Look for the spot where the still-green flower spike joins the main stem. You’ll see small bumps on the flower spike called nodes. “An orchid will push out more flowers from those nodes,” Kondrat explains.
Count two nodes from the base of the spike and cut the spike just above the second node. “This helps the orchid focus and know which node to send all its energy to,” Kondrat says. As a result, you’ll either get another flower spike growing from that point or you’ll get a little keiki, a baby orchid. Kondrat estimates that with this technique, you have a 50% chance of getting new flower buds in just a couple of months.
Option B: Cut All the Way to the Base
You can also let the flower spike turn brown and die back naturally, according to Kondrat. Once the spike is completely brown, cut it down to the base, where it attaches to the main plant.
If you want a tidier plant, cut it down sooner, while the spike is still green and the last bloom has finished. Cutting the spike off as soon as it has finished blooming helps the plant recharge, Kondrat says. “The orchid will use the rest period to recharge and rebuild energy.”
If you go with this option, expect the orchid to bloom again in about a year after it grows a new spike from the base. Though you will wait longer for new blooms, your plant gets a rest and a recharge, and you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular bloom spike next year. By removing the spike entirely, you’re telling the plant to stop spending energy on flowers and focus on roots and leaves.