How to prune christmas orchid

After flowering, typically in winter to early spring. Snip spent spikes at the sheath base with sterile scissors. Retain all green pseudobulbs; remove only fully desiccated back-bulbs. Divide congested rhizomes at repotting instead of pruning.

Once per year after bloom; back-bulb removal only when fully dead. Christmas Orchid (Cattleya trianae) needs only light post-bloom tidying. Once spectacular winter blooms drop, remove spent flower spikes at the base of the sheath with sterile scissors. All pseudobulbs, including back-bulbs with any green colouring, should be left in place. Only remove completely dry, shrivelled canes. Repotting every 2–3 years maintains vigor.

Snip spent spikes at the sheath base with sterile scissors. Retain all green pseudobulbs; remove only fully desiccated back-bulbs. Divide congested rhizomes at repotting instead of pruning.