Staking Phals

[Sara]

Hi all, long time no see!
I've now successfully been able to get my Phal and my siter's Phal to bloom again. But I noticed that they have a tendency to grow out rather than up. I've tried staking, but with no success. How do you properly stake a Phal Thanks!

[robb]

Hi Sara, welcome back

i'm not sure how you mean "properly stake a Phal" but the commercially grown phals i've bought in stores have a slim metal rod coated in plastic, inserted into the pots. the flower spike is then fixed onto the rod by means of twist ties, usually quite loosely (don't want to cut circulation off!).

[Vivienne]

Sara - I'll answer your question with questions? How long are the spikes? How big (hefty) are they? Exactly what causes you to say 'no success'?
Can you add pictures?

[jbigio]

Hi I don’t usually stake them in till they get to top heavy. Then I put a bamboo stake as close to the spike, being careful not to stab the plant, and then I use clips to hold the spike up right. It usually takes two one midway and one below where the spike starts to arch. As the spike grows you can just move the clips up or down as needed.
joe

[mayres]

The spikes generally want to grow towards the light. To some degree you can get them to head the right direction by turning the plant as they grow. Plants that get their light from a window can have their spikes curl up and over the plants by just turning them as they grow. To further coax them you can stake them and gently pull them one direction a little at a time if the spike is thick and not inclined to bend much. Just go a litte each day (if the spike is stiff) until you eventually get the look you are after. mike

[tizzycat]

I had some success with turning the plants - as Mike says the spikes tend to head towards the light.

I use a thin tall stake and I buy these little hair clips and they're great for holding the spike/stake. Keep gently training the spike around the stake and don't leave it too long as the spikes become tougher and hard to bend. I learnt my lesson when I broke off half a spike - needless to say I only ever broke one.

The clips come in different sizes, be sure to use one that won't squash the spike. Give it plenty of breathing space. As they're plastic you can sterilize and reuse them.

[Sara]

Well with my Phal, when I tried training it, the tip brokw. Fortunetly, it started a new growth from the side. My Phal is not in bloom any more. With my sister's, I tried training it and it got a really funny curve in the spike, so I just let it grow however it wanted.
Here are some pics.

Up close:

[mayres]

Good picture. I'm thinking you "could" stake that spike upwards if you really were inclined to do so. You just wouldn't want to try and do it all at once. You could put a stake in the pot and then tie a string or use a LONG twist tie and slowly bring it up a few inches every day or every other day. If you tied it near the first flower and start coaxing it over it will not break if you are gentle. When training ANY flower spike you don't want to pull on the tender tip portion. Of course the flowering arrangement you have now is really how they tend to grow in the wild on trees. Plants hanging sideways and flowers straight out - actually downward to some degree.

[Vivienne]

I think it looks very pretty the way it is. But I would be scared that someone would run in to it (*my boys) and it would break. I keep dreaming about one day waking up and all my Phals are hanging from the atrium ceiling with blooms cascading down. Someday.

[jbigio]

you should also rember that its natural for the spikes to hang on some phal since thats there natural growing habit when they grow on branches in trees

[Fabolusus]

I start the staking process very early on. Using the standard orchid clips and a bamboo, plastic or metal stake, VERY CAREFULLY attach the first clip. As the spike grows, you can eventually add more until it reaches the desired shape.