Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.
Many perks! <...more...>
|
11-21-2021, 05:46 PM
|
Jr. Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 6
|
|
can i cut Renanthera Kalsom back?
I have a Renanthera Kalsom, that was kept outside in Massachusetts until the nighttime temps dropped below 55F. Brought it indoors and it is blooming wonderfully (will attempt to add a pic). Since the plant is over 4 foot tall now, i'd like to cut it back? i assume i can cut it back to the point of no leaves and repot?
Thanks for any help!
|
Post Thanks / Like - 2 Likes
|
|
|
11-21-2021, 06:02 PM
|
Banned
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,247
|
|
it looks great but leave it till the flowers have finished otherwise you will make them drop.
Then like you said it can be topped below the leaves. Make sure it has a few good roots left when you make the cut.
Then let the cut air dry for a day till it's completely dry. Some like to use cinnamon powder to speed this up but you should avoid getting it on roots, the important thing is it dries and seals itself.
Then pot it and have a stake ready to support it, it will be very wobbly to start with.
|
11-21-2021, 07:46 PM
|
Jr. Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 6
|
|
thanks for the confirmation. HAving killed more orchids than i have been successful with, wanted to verify.
|
11-21-2021, 08:48 PM
|
|
Super Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Zone: 10a
Location: Coastal southern California, USA
Posts: 13,858
|
|
I totally agree, don't cut anything until after it finishes booming. Actually, if it were my plant I wouldn't cut it then either. Renantheras do tend to be tall plants. If you just let it grow, it is very likely to produce side branches (possibly with roots, and very capable of blooming from there too) If you let it do its thing, you likely will get an even better show in the future. Worth going to some trouble to accommodate it. Give those aerial roots a good bath when you water (You can take it into the bathtub/shower when you do that so that you don't make a mess.) In fact, you could just water it under the shower. Then let it drip dry before you bring it back into your living area.
|
11-22-2021, 08:53 AM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2013
Zone: 7a
Location: North Plainfield, NJ
Posts: 2,819
|
|
This plant could be cut, but you will only get top piece out of it. If you wait till it is 5-6' tall, you will likely be be able to cut at a point, where some leaves remain on the bottom portion. That gives the bottom a chance to produce a keiki.
Note: Plant looks a little desiccated. You should probably water more (and/or repot in spaghnum to maintain better humidity around the roots).
__________________
Kim (Fair Orchids)
Founder of SPCOP (Society to Prevention of Cruelty to Orchid People), with the goal of barring the taxonomists from tinkering with established genera!
I am neither a 'lumper' nor a 'splitter', but I refuse to re-write millions of labels.
|
11-22-2021, 08:58 PM
|
Jr. Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 6
|
|
Thank you for the reply. Yes, i agree it is desiccated. I need a greenhouse! For now, it is too tall to move around easily so it only gets watered once a week. Maybe 2x. i did not track it's growth this summer outside, but i think it is rather slow. Don't know that i would want to wait until it reached 5 foot. *sigh*
|
11-22-2021, 09:31 PM
|
|
Super Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Zone: 10a
Location: Coastal southern California, USA
Posts: 13,858
|
|
Orchids teach patience... You have a plant that is naturally tall, and thirsty. If you want it to thrive, you need to give it what it needs! Daily watering is in order. Or, soak it in a bucket deep enough to cover most of the roots for a couple of hours 2 or 3 times a week.
|
11-22-2021, 10:52 PM
|
Jr. Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 6
|
|
so my options are to cut it back or watch it wither. wish i had a shower with a window...
|
11-22-2021, 11:00 PM
|
|
Super Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Zone: 10a
Location: Coastal southern California, USA
Posts: 13,858
|
|
This is what I did in my condo days, before I had space for a greenhouse...I did have two bathrooms so that I didn't have to share the space with the orchids. I rigged a big HID light over the tub. I even automated the "shower" ... a 5 gallon bucket with a pump on a timer, and sprinklers above the plants. (The bucket was easy to refill from the tub spigot.) Not ideal, but got the warmer-growing high light orchids through the winter.
This was quite a few years ago... lights have gotten much more efficient - and lighter weight - with the advent of LEDs.
http://orchidcentral.org/GrowingAreas/Vandacity.jpg
If you have to share the shower, you could still put a light over it... shower with the orchid. Either you get a sun tan, or just turn it off while you are in there.
Last edited by Roberta; 11-22-2021 at 11:42 PM..
|
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
|
|
|
11-22-2021, 11:09 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2019
Zone: 10b
Location: South Florida, East Coast
Posts: 5,838
|
|
I want to shower with my orchids now lol
__________________
All the ways I grow are dictated by the choices I have made and the environment in which I live. Please listen and act accordingly
--------------------------------------------------------------
Rooted in South Florida....
Zone 10b, Baby! Hot and wet
#MoreFlowers Insta
#MoreFlowers Flickr
|
Post Thanks / Like - 3 Likes
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:55 PM.
|