Cutting Down a Phalaenopsis When it has Finished Blooming

[Megan]

Hello! I am new. I bought a yellow phalaenopsis in late February and while my orchid has not finished blooming yet, I am beginning to think that maybe I should learn what exactly to do once it has finished. I have read that some people recommend that you cut it at the third node from the top but I assume there is more than one way to do it. What do you all recommend? Thank you!

[scarlet]

hello Megan,

I'm also new in growing orchids but I heard from one lecture in the Santa Barbara International orchid fair from the orchid guy that retaining the three nodes might produce flower but very few and that the orchid will spend its energy in the nodes. so if to cut the whole thing you will allow your phaelanopsis to use its energy in growing and that they will produce more flower next time. maybe you can watch him in you tube.

[norris]

I guess I compromise I cut it at the second node, I've got a re-bloom both years I did that, the funny thing is my re-bloom occurs at the time I get a new spike, not right after I cut it so right now I have 13 blooms on my plant 9 on the new spike and 4 on the cut one from last year... That's plenty for me

[Megan]

Thank you Norris and Scarlet! I will definitely consider your ideas.

[berkeleysgr8]

I prefer not to cut the entire flower spike. I suppose I may be getting fewer flowers on the subsequent blooms, but they're all gorgeous to me! To cut or not to cut seems to be a matter of preference rather than anything that has a huge impact on the plant's overall health.

[mayres]

You are noting from these posts that everyone has their own ideas/methods of dealing with flowered out spikes. Obviously the choice is up to you. In most cases my preference is to remove the spike at the base as close to the plant as I can get after blooming. A couple of reasons. Only the original spike typically has the number and highest quality of blooms. I prefer the plant to immediately start regenerating its energy through the production of more roots and bigger and healthier leaves for next year's spike instead of working on subspikes. Also for me, the artistic appearance of the overall plant with original spike(s) is more natural/beautiful than the subpiked "look". Either way - enjoy you phal!

[Tobi]

I perfer to cut off the entire spike after blooming. I find that it replentishes the needed
nutrients back to the entire plant so that the next blooms are bigger and better than
the previous blooms. Also aesthetically it looks better than random spikes coming off
the main spike. Your perference.

[patlee]

Hey Geeks, Do you have a list of the sequential bloomers or the orchids whose spikes you' re not supposed to cut I know some of them will bloom on the same spike next year and I thought I had the list in my "Book of Knowledge", but apparently not Can anybody help?

[Megan]

Thank you everyone! I may cut my phal at the base as many of you have suggested. It's still not quite finished blooming so it might be awhile before I do anything with it. Thanks for your help.

[tina jacobs]

hi there
I love this site I have bought my first four orchids and am very stupid in this regard so excuse me when I ask very "beginner" questions you all sound so clued up on these spectacular plants. When you say you cut the spike at the base of the plant is it the stem where it starts growing out from the leaves.

[patlee]

Hi Tina, Welcome to the forum!! This is the best place to be if you are just starting out (wish I had found this site a long time ago--it might have saved some plants). We have some very experienced growers here who can give you an answer to almost any question about orchids. What kind of orchids do you have? Can you go to the UserCP in the upper left of your screen and update your profile to let us know where you live? That will help us to give you advice...

So far your instincts are right on--cutting the spike means cutting the stem at the point where it comes out of the leaves. Enjoy the ride here. Glad you found us

[tina jacobs]

hi there

thanks i think i am an over eager orchid addict i live in south africa and i have been surfing the net to find a site like this but there are none available for us south africans

[fred]

Hi Megan
can you please go into your UserCP on the top left of the page and click your usercp and go into your Profile and Update your Profile with your Location.
this helps us to understand your growing conditions as we have members from all over the world with different growing conditions plus updating your profile with your location will help us to give you the right advice

thank you