broken phal spike before flowering

[brucek]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum. I've been growing orchids for a few years but I've had a problem recently with a broken phalaenopsis spike which occured just before it was about to flower. I've tried taping the broken spike back in place but I don't know if this do any good. The plant is very healthy and usually flowers at least once a year. It's leaves are healthy looking as well as it roots. Anyway I would welcome any advice with regard to the broken spike. Should I cut back the spike to the base and forget about trying to rescue the broken part?

Look forward to any comments.

Kind regards,
Bruce K

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

It is unlikely you will be able to recue the spike. But take heart, the remaining portion of the spike will probably thro out a side shoot and bloom well on that, as the plant has not used up much energy in blooming yet, so should do a good job of blooming on the side shoot.

[brucek]

Hi Cynthia,

Thanks for your prompt reply. I'll cross my fingers and hope I get a side shoot to develop.

Kind regards,
Bruce K

[mayres]

I had a phal last year that I brought into my office - it had two gorgeous flower spikes. It HATED my office and promptly dropped off every single bloom. So, instead of three months of blooms I got maybe two weeks. In great disappointment I trimmed both spikes back to the base and it promptly shot out another brand new one! My guess is that if I had trimmed the spike back to just above last node they would have sub-spiked? I'm not suggesting you should cut your spike off like I did, just noting that as Cynthia suggests - it seems that when a plant is all set to bloom it will do all it can to make those blooms a part of its life.......mike

[SwTLaDYy16]

yanno..the same thing happened to me...two of my phals had two spikes...one already in bloom and the other spike not yet....well, my kitten (who loves to play) accidentally knocked both phals over and the spikes not in bloom yet broke. They both broke just above the first node....do you guys think that they will sprout up a new branch and flower? Or has it used up too much energy with the spike already in bloom?

[mayres]

Chances are good - hang in there!

[SwTLaDYy16]

wonderful! i guess i'll just have to be patient then....(and keep an eye out for my kitten)

[atlsoccermom]

I am a newbie. I broke a spike that had flowered about 6 months ago. Nothing has grown back. How can I get a new spike to grow?

[fred]

hi and welcome to the forum

I hope that you enjoy your stay here with all of us orchid geeks.

I could just answer your question with when your orchid is ready it will spike again.

but to help you even more ( that is what we like to do here )

you may find this link useful also
Orchid Care for Phalenonopis & Paphiopedilum Orchids

do you feed (fertilize) your orchid ?
how often do you ?
how often do you water your orchid.