could someone please ID where the flowering spikes are?

[jumbojimmy]

my orchid has finished flowering, so I cut off to the nearest bud.

Three days later the stem where the bud is located turn reddish. I thought it was dying out, so I cut off to the part where there is this caramel colored "ring".

Is the caramel colored "ring" the right place to cut or have I completetly destroyed all my flowering spikes?

Please reply.

[philliptan]

It's unlikely that it would re-spike so soon after flowering. Some of my Phal stems also turns red before finally drying. So I would guess it's safe to say you did not cut off any flowering spike.

[mayres]

After blooming a spike will sometimes send out a secondary spike at bract/node along the stem. This is usually at the last one just prior to the start of the flowers - so people often cut their spike just above this node - which I'm assuming is what you are calling a "ring". Usually when this spike turns color it is dying and should be cut off at the base - it will eventually dry completely. Another flowering spike should develop in another location along the base of your plant during the next normal spike period. Some people immediately cut down the spike after flowering for they would prefer the plant to puts its energy into building up the plant and improving the opportunity for a larger/better primary spike next time instead of the fewer and smaller flowers that usually accompany a secondary spike - the choice is of course yours if the plant allows you to make it - sometimes not. Phals typically will bloom once per year - when forced by commercial growers to bloom in period that would not normally bloom them in your location it will take some time for them to acclimate to your environment and start their cycle. mike