How to prune giant cymbidium

Late spring to early summer, once all blooms have dropped. Use sterile, sharp secateurs to cut each spent spike at the base. Remove only fully leafless, dry backbulbs by cutting at the rhizome junction. Sterilise tools between plants to prevent viral spread.

Annually, post-flowering. Giant Cymbidium should have spent flower spikes removed promptly after blooming to conserve the plant's considerable energy. Its large pseudobulbs store reserves for the next season, so only remove leafless, shrivelled backbulbs. Leafy pseudobulbs — even older ones — continue to contribute nutrients and should be left intact.

Use sterile, sharp secateurs to cut each spent spike at the base. Remove only fully leafless, dry backbulbs by cutting at the rhizome junction. Sterilise tools between plants to prevent viral spread.