From my perspective as a Dendrobium orchid, the period after my flowers fade is a critical time of recovery and redirection. The magnificent display of blooming required a tremendous expenditure of my stored energy, drawn from my pseudobulbs (those tall, cane-like structures) and leaves. Now, my primary biological imperative is to recuperate. I must photosynthesize vigorously to replenish my nutrient reserves and prepare for the next growth cycle. The care you provide now, especially regarding pruning, directly influences my health and my ability to bloom for you again.
Your first step is to carefully examine my flower spike. Many of my common hybrids are of the *nobile* type. On these canes, the flowers emerge directly from the nodes along the pseudobulb. Once the flowers on a particular cane are spent, that specific cane will not bloom again. However, it is not useless. That green, leafy cane is now a vital energy factory, photosynthesizing to support the development of new growths (called "keikis" or baby plants, or simply new leads). Please do not remove a green, plump pseudobulb, even if it looks bare. It is sustaining me.
For the *nobile*-type Dendrobiums, you should only remove the actual flower spike itself if it turns brown and dies back naturally. If it remains green, you can choose to leave it or trim it back to the top node. The real pruning comes later for the canes themselves, and only when they are completely shriveled, yellow, and brown, with no remaining moisture or function. This indicates I have reabsorbed all its nutrients. Use sterilized pruning shears or sharp scissors to make a clean cut at the base of this truly dead cane. This prevents rot and disease from entering my main clump.
Some of my relatives, the *phalaenopsis*-type Dendrobiums, behave differently. They produce a long, arching spray of flowers from the top of the cane. Sometimes, these spikes can produce new flowers from nodes further down the same spike after the initial blossoms fade. For these types, you can trim the spike. Locate the lowest node on the spike that previously held a bud or flower, and then cut the spike about one inch above the next node down. This may encourage a secondary bloom. If the spike turns yellow or brown, however, proceed as with the *nobile* type and remove it entirely at its base.
With the pruning complete, my needs shift. I require a period of active growth. Please provide me with bright, indirect light and consistent moisture. A balanced, diluted orchid fertilizer will help me greatly as I work to produce new canes (pseudobulbs). These new growths are the key to my future flowers. As they mature and develop, they will store the energy required for the next spectacular bloom cycle. Your careful pruning allows me to focus all my resources on this new generation of growth, setting the stage for another beautiful display.
