Orientation of Phals

[Fuerte Rav]

Hi
I've been reading posts where it's suggested that you don't change the orientation of your phal while the flower spike is growing and buds are opening. Makes sense but several of my phals have put out near horizontal flower spikes that are now trying to get out of the window. Next year I will be prepared and stake them upright as they grow. My question for now is:

Currently they are growing in a room with north facing windows and the spikes are reaching north. Can I change them to a south facing room and place them facing south? So they will still be facing the light but 180 degrees different on the compass. I'm not sure if it's just the light source that affects them or if they have an internal compass as well

[aliceinwl]

I think it’s just the light source. If you’re very careful, you can often stake horizontal spikes upright too. Sometimes it takes a week of gradually increasing tension to slowly pull them upright: patience is the key to preventing breakage. Once the spike has stopped growing you can “safely” turn it away from the light too.

[Fuerte Rav]

Thank you aliceinwl, I'll give it a try. I'm so afraid of breaking the spikes anyway as I lift the pots around for watering etc that I think it will be worth trying to gradually pull them upright.

[aliceinwl]

I was having a tough time working around horizontal spikes too. I used a combination of string and long twist ties until I could get them close enough to the stake for plant clips. Just go slow ;-) Trying to get them upright in one go has led to a few tragedies.

[Roberta]

You can also turn them just a bit (to get them away from the window) while you're using aliceinwl's technique to raise the spikes. The reason for maintaining the orientation to the light once the spikes are developing is that they tend to follow the light... so if you change the orientation, they will tend to twist, making a less aesthetic presentation. It doesn't harm them, just makes the spike presentation less pleasing. But you can make both adjustments at the same time... gently and gradually.

[Fuerte Rav]

Thanks for the advice. I've successfully pulled the flowers stem up on the phal with the paler flowers pictured here and I'm working on the new flower spikes in the third picture.

[Roberta]

Well done!

[Maru777]

Your orchids are beautiful! One thing I would say as someone who was just in this situation is to be careful when you stake them up because yours, especially the beautiful light one, seem very heavy. What happened when I did it was that the weight of the flowers was resting on, in my case, the mosquito net When the spike was up, it had to bear the weight itself and it was too great. The spike bent where the support ended so badly that then those flowers died. It did not happen when I staked it, it was a few days after as more blooms opened and the flowers increased even more their weight. I felt pretty bad about that one but the plant is now putting out new flowers on a different branch. So I would just suggest you make sure the spike has support for as much of its length as possible. I’ll try to find pics of my disaster as a cautionary tale

[WaterWitchin]

I like the decorative tip on the stake. Cheers!

[jpope42]

What's wrong with horizontal spikes?