training spikes

[whalloper]

Hello all!

I have a double spike that I started to train to grow away from each other. They were initially curving at the top the same direction and I thought the display wouldnt look as nice. Then I thought...Would The flowers on the one side be upside down?? The oldest bud is still small, but I think it is upside down. I hope this isnt a crazy question, but I thought Id ask before I end up with an awkward looking display.

[Rivka]

im not really the one that would know, but i thought that it matters once the buds really start forming, so it would depend how fall along the spikes are.

i think from what i have watched that the buds orient themselves as they form and twist before they open, so as long and it is still small you might get away with a lot.

[Stelios]

i also think that buds reorient themselves just before opening. But it happened once or twice to have the first flower on the spike staying upside down after training the spike at a later stage.

[kmarch]

It would help to know what kind of orchid you have.

[kid a]

Steaking spikes with any orchid is something I don't have experience with, I always just let mine do their thing lol.

[whalloper]

Originally Posted by kid a

Steaking spikes with any orchid is something I don't have experience with, I always just let mine do their thing lol.

I Know, I would LOVE to do that! I just have too many now that they would get too tangled and I wouldnt be able to move them to water them!! I have hanging baskets and I do let them "do their thing" because its so natural looking. Believe me, I do not like orchid clips one bit.

[NancyH]

Hi, Yes it would be helpful to know what kind of an orchid you are dealing with. I train almost all of my spikes as I have many orchids and my greenhouse is crowded. Some orchid growth habit it to spread out and languish over the sides of the pot. With these types of orchids I stake almost all the growth to encourage the growth upward. When new spikes are forming I put a stake in the pot and gently guide the spike up the growth with some soft tape made of velcro. This way the new spikes are alowed to grow and are not impeaded by leaves or the pots of other plants close by. Eventhough I check my plants daily I have encountered many spikes all bent over that I missed due to the fact they were growing under a stiff leaf from another plant. My Phals I stake with a curved stake to train the spike into a lovlier shape. My Paphs I really start early with the staking process. I have found that if I stake to late the flower will not hang properly. Hope this helps. Remember, growers who Bonzii plants can train them to grow what ever way they want. Orchids are not so trainable, but you can alter a few things. Good luck, the most important part is to have fun!

[whalloper]

my orchids are 95% phals/dtps

[NancyH]

In 4 years of the five dtps I have, I have never gotten one to bloom!!! New leaves every year, lots of plump roots ect... I have now moved them to a new location. We will see what happens. Patience is the name of the game. Nancy

[Ron]

Hi I regularly train my big whites Phallies etc to grow straight up and then bend them so as they grow straight back down.
bending is best done on your fast growing growth and in the middle of the day is best when the sap is runnig and the new growth is supple.
Here is one of my early attemps that nearly went wrong on me bending it too soon.
Otherwise some of the spikes can grow up to 4 feet tall and with upto 20 big flowers on can becomme a problem to keep upright.
Have fun
Ron