Should I cut this phal stem? - Orchid Board

spinrah · #1 10-25-2020, 01:06 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm an orchid newbie and would appreciate some help with whether I should cut the stem on this orchid. It looks to me that it has a flower spike forming at the very tip, but I'm not sure. It has looked like this for over a month now and hasn't developed much more. Should I leave it as is, or cut it back to a node?

In case it's helpful to know... I also recently re-potted it in bark media a couple weeks ago as the flowers were fading away (it hadn't been re-potted since I purchased it in June). It also had another stem that wasn't looking so good (was turning brown) that I ended up cutting down to the bottom node.

Thank you!

Mr.Fakename · #2 10-25-2020, 01:15 PM

In general, it's best not to cut anything green.

New buds can form here, even thought it takes time.

Spikes are also used for photosynthesis; and when your plant is done with it, it can recycle parts of the water and nutrients into new growth.

Be patient!

estación seca · #3 10-25-2020, 02:00 PM

I leave them. Some people don't like the look and cut them.

spinrah · #4 10-25-2020, 02:03 PM

Thanks for the replies! I guess the reason I was wondering whether I should cut them was because I heard that if they are no longer producing flower spikes they are drawing energy away from the plant, but I have no idea if that's true. I also read that it's a good idea to cut about an inch above a healthy node to encourage a new flower spike to grow.

Was I wrong to cut the stem that was starting to turn brown? The nodes were also drying out.

Roberta · #5 10-25-2020, 02:42 PM

Once the old flower spike turns brown, it's doing nothing more for the plant, feel free to cut because it's just ugly. For me, I don't cut anything green if I can help it because the plant can use that stored water and tissue. (No, it doesn't take energy from the plant, just the opposite) Brown and crunchy, it's out if I get around to it (not hurting anything) On Phals it's easy to tell. Some other types like Epidendrums and Dendrobiums, spikes and canes can look dead and be very much alive... so those don't get cut until they actually shrivel, or snap off easily. (Learned the hard way...cutting something brown and finding that it WAS green on the inside. You can't reattach it...)

spinrah · #6 10-25-2020, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberta

Once the old flower spike turns brown, it's doing nothing more for the plant, feel free to cut because it's just ugly. For me, I don't cut anything green if I can help it because the plant can use that stored water and tissue. (No, it doesn't take energy from the plant, just the opposite) Brown and crunchy, it's out if I get around to it (not hurting anything) On Phals it's easy to tell. Some other types like Epidendrums and Dendrobiums, spikes and canes can look dead and be very much alive... so those don't get cut until they actually shrivel, or snap off easily. (Learned the hard way...cutting something brown and finding that it WAS green on the inside. You can't reattach it...)

Great, thanks! What are your thoughts on cutting just above the next node after flowering to encourage a new flower spike?

Roberta · #7 10-25-2020, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinrah

Great, thanks! What are your thoughts on cutting just above the next node after flowering to encourage a new flower spike?

I'd just leave it... if the plant is inclined to do a branch from a node (genetic, some species in the background may tend to do this, others don't) it will do it, then you could cut above the branch since that part is likely to die back at any rate. So that's another reason to leave old spikes alone... they might send out branch that can bloom, or they could develop a keiki - a baby plant, which can also bloom either attached or potted up as a separate plant when roots are wel developed. So just watch it, see what it does.

spinrah · #8 10-25-2020, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberta

I'd just leave it... if the plant is inclined to do a branch from a node (genetic, some species in the background may tend to do this, others don't) it will do it, then you could cut above the branch since that part is likely to die back at any rate. So that's another reason to leave old spikes alone... they might send out branch that can bloom, or they could develop a keiki - a baby plant, which can also bloom either attached or potted up as a separate plant when roots are wel developed. So just watch it, see what it does.

Sounds good, I will leave my stems alone from now on.

Thanks for your help!