I think my flowers are falling off...

[Annette]

but I'm just wondering if them "collapsing" in on themselves is the normal way of doing this?

[Annette]

also, once they fall off, should I just cut off the spike the flower was on, or all three spikes, or the one entire spike? And if I do cut off the entire thing, do I cut after the third node, or close to the base? When I re-potted I had to trim off what seemed like a lot of roots off both of them. When I got them they were both sitting in water. Oh, also they are phals.

[kmarch]

No flower, not even an orchid flower lasts forever. Sounds like your flowers are fading normally.

If they've lost roots it might not be a bad idea to cut the spent spikes off completely, near the base, though you will get differing opinions on this.

[mayres]

I would second what Kevin said, especially due to the time of year that it is. Your plant can rebuild its strength for a typical new spiking period coming up this fall (for the majority of hybrid phals).

[Annette]

thats what I was, unhappily, leaning towards. I really wanted to keep the whole spike in hopes next time it flowers that they all would, and have a bunch of pretty flowers but that feels greedy. I think they both probably just need cut down far to focus on the roots health.

thanks so much for helping me realize this