Overtrimmed stem - will it ever grow new? - Orchid Board

NovelorBust · #1 09-26-2019, 03:12 PM

I misread directions on an orchid care website and overtrimmed the flower stem after it finished blooming. The directions said "trim above the last node" which I took to mean cut off everything from the first node off. So, now I'm left with an orchid that can't grow a new stem. Will a new stem ever grow - even from a different location?

I've taken really good care of this thing for the past two years with all the right soil and a special pot. I water it and fertilize it and make sure it gets sun. It's put out a number of new leaves and roots, but the stem stump is dried out and lifeless. I'm so sad.

OrchidBro · #2 09-26-2019, 04:30 PM

First off, welcome to the board! Second, what type of orchid are you talking about? I am going to guess it is a generic Phalaenopsis that one would get at a convenience store. Generally, it is best advice to leave a flower stem until it starts to turn brown since some orchids can rebloom from old flower stems. Do not worry though, your orchid CAN grow new stems, many new stems over the course of its lifetime, and from many different locations.

SaraJean · #3 09-26-2019, 07:49 PM

You did fine

Yes, you can absolutely leave the old flower spike on the orchid as stated above. However you did not harm your orchid by cutting the spike off at the base. With good care and sufficient light it will send out a new spike from in between the leaves. I personally prefer to cut off the entire spike from my Phals after they bloom. Mine always seemed to send out smaller flowers when they were coming off of a previously bloomed spike. Again though, that is just personal preference. The only time it is a really big no-no to cut the spike is when it is a sequential bloomer (I.e. keeps sending out new flowers on the same stem when the old one fades) like a Phal bellina, Psychopsis, or Prosthechea cochleata. Those types you would definitely want to leave the spikes on until they are dry. For a regular Phal hybrid, it’s not a big deal

Roberta · #4 09-26-2019, 08:32 PM

If it hasn't rebloomed in two years, try (gradually) increasing the light. Assuming that it is a Phalaenopsis, they don't want bright light but they do want as many hours of light as can be managed. My own experience was that I added a fluorescent light (LED would be fine as well) on a timer 12 hours a day in addition to the light coming in the window, and got plants to bloom regularly, where they had not when I just had the window light. Also you mention "soil" - I hope this is just a matter of terminology, most orchids need to grow in an open medium such as bark - they want "moist air" rather than "wet" around the roots. But if your plant is growing well, do consider increasing the number of hours of light that it gets.

WaterWitchin · #5 09-27-2019, 10:54 AM

I'm with SaraJean on the cut the spike once last bloom drops...as she says IF we're talking a Phaleonopsis. And with Roberta on the 12 hours light. I also make sure there's a 15F degree drop when possible. Appears to help with the reblooming, for me.

NovelorBust · #6 09-28-2019, 01:11 PM

Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, it is a phalaenopsis from Rite Aid.

I was just so shocked to see it continue to bloom and grow that I decided I ought to see if I could keep the thing alive. I'll take some pictures of it later. It's put out a good 3-4 healthy leaves since I repotted it (yes, in bark "soil") but no new spike. I will try to get it more sun. It's been living in my bathroom with light from a north-facing window, but maybe that isn't bright enough.

Roberta · #7 09-28-2019, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NovelorBust

Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, it is a phalaenopsis from Rite Aid.

I was just so shocked to see it continue to bloom and grow that I decided I ought to see if I could keep the thing alive. I'll take some pictures of it later. It's put out a good 3-4 healthy leaves since I repotted it (yes, in bark "soil") but no new spike. I will try to get it more sun. It's been living in my bathroom with light from a north-facing window, but maybe that isn't bright enough.

"Bright" may not be the issue... these are low-light plants. It's the number of hours that it gets that light that could be the challenge. That's where supplemental light comes in. Especially as the sun shifts with the seasons, with fall and winter upon us, it's going to get less hours of good light.

SaraJean · #8 09-28-2019, 03:16 PM

All of the above. Also, I thought I would add that sometimes these can skip a year from blooming after you purchase it. The commercial growers can manipulate the conditions and get them to bloom out of their “normal” season. Then the phal sometimes just needs a break. Normal spiking season for a lot of Phal hybrids is late fall through the end of winter