Allow Flowers or Not?

[mayres]

My only phal species orchid - cornu cervi - was removed from its "mother" in June of 2006 and came home to live with me. It has recently started a flower spike. Do you think I should allow this plant to go ahead and flower, or should I remove the spike and make it put its energy into building up the size/energy of the plant? It is still a pretty small plant.

[digitalgate]

what spike?

[Tess1]

Gee mayres, I can only see some really healthy roots.

[pikevi]

I assume the spike is starting on the far side and the photo is to show the size of the plant.

I don't have much experience but I will let it bloom ,if I were you.

If nature intends it, plant wants it and your care supports it, why interfere?

Good luck.

[ I have a few Phals that have inflorescence, spike,new roots, new leaf and keiki. They don't seem to be starving for energy nor nutrients. Unless 'species' orchids are finicky I'd let it bloom]

[terry_sealey]

I was given some good advice by a breeder and grower when I had 2 year old seedlings starting to spike. He suggested alowing the first flower to bloom and then removing the rest of the buds. This lets you see what the flowers are like without taking too much out of the plant. If you still think it is too much of a strain on the plant you can always cut off the flowering spike and enjoy looking at it in a vase.

[tom499]

I have one slightly smaller that spiked and flowered. They are very pretty and I would agree with the post before, let it flower, then cut off the spike if your worried.

The plant looks very healthy, those are nice aerial roots growing, and lovely coloured leaves so I think the plant would do fine.

Interesting you have yours in bark. Mines in vase culture at the moment, It hasn't done much since flowering, though I think the cool winter is just slowing it down.

Tom499

[mayres]

Thanks for the comments - I will go ahead and let it flower and show you all the results (hopefully) in a few months. The spike is actually about 1/8" long and is in the crotch of the third leaf down on the right - since it is exactly the same light green color as the leaf it doesn't show up much in my picture.

[jay]

This is an interesting question because if memory serves me, this Phal can be in bloom continuously for a couple of years. So, if you let it bloom, it could do so for a very long time. I think it was Matthew Gore that said he had one of these in bloom for 2+ years now.

I don't have an opinion either way because I don't have any experience with Phal. cornu cervi, but I am interested to hear what some others say.

I understand why one might want to cut a first time bloom off of a phal so that it can grow into a larger plant and have possible better blooms in the future, but are there a lot of growers that do this? Is this something that is done more by those who show and try to get the most potential out of the orchid?

Jay

[Orchidflowerchild]

That plant looks to be very healthy, to me. I say, let it bloom. If it starts to stall, otherwise (leaves, roots, looking a little peak-ed), you can always cut the inlforescence, later.

-Cj

[PhalPal]

Mike I say let it bloom. I don't argue with nature very often.

I have only a few species, but my Phal bellini has put out one flower at a time for a while now. Is it fair to say that if the genetics of a plant dictates producing one flower at a time it is less draining to the plant?? I mean, versus a long spike with ten flowers?

[tizzycat]

The plant looks in great condition Mike, I think I would be inclined to let it bloom. I think nature is in control here.

If the condition of the plant changes, you can always remove the spike.

[patlee]

I'm glad you asked that question,Mike. I have a similar situation, but my plant is not as healthy as yours. I have a Phal hybrid called "Cherries in the Snow"that I took over from a friend this summer. It was in very bad shape ,but now has healthy basal growth. The problem is that it only has two other mature leaves. And a six-inch spike. The consensus I am hearing (I might be paying more attention to what I want to hear ) is to let it flower and see what Nature has in mind.Would everybody recommend this even with a rehabilitating orchid??

[PhalPal]

Patlee on a healthy plant I would let it bloom because it will not effect the strength of the plant. On one that has been struggling, I would sacrifice the spike. It is probably throwing out a spike as a last ditch effort because it thinks it is dying. My opinion is flowers just might hurry this along.