shifting gears, last flowers

[tedro]

the only flowers left are on the first branch.
second branch went first, then the spike, now only the first branch remains.

(i did clip a bit of the depleted 2nd branch as an experiment.)

question: if you can make out the change in color from the tip of the spike going back up, is this lighter tip color … was it always like that, covered by flowers, or … i can hardly believe it’s death since the flowers were just there, but maybe that’s it exactly.




ps. i’m guessing that lighter color is a “living” color. that the fact that it will soon die off, is not why it’s this color, so it must have been this color or near it.

[Paphluvr]

It's a bit hard to discern what branch the remaining flowers are on, but the lighter color seems to be the main stem starting to dry up. If it progresses toward a branching stem it can be removed with a sterilized tool.

[DirtyCoconuts]

First off. This is one incredible plant to put on show after show like this

I never cut anything off my plants that is not brown and brittle (as far as spikes) the plant can reuse a green spike for re flowering, storing and reusing the nutrients in the tissue and making keikis.

If a spike has gone brown and it is not attractive or useful as a place to secure other spikes, then I might clip it.

[tedro]

thanks all!

DC, thank you! i am rather proud of it.

i’ll be repotting into the surrounding pot (in picture); then put that in a container pot, for weight.

this time i will try to use more sphagnum, so watering might be longer than 3-4 days. sheesh. gonna be tricky, for me.
the phal seems to be quite hardy, it should adapt, i think.
i know it loves it getting plenty of air and fresh rinses everytime.

[WaterWitchin]

That sucker is just a flowering machine, isn't it? If one can have only one orchid, I think you chose well!

[tedro]

it’s beautiful. and this is what i bought! because it looked like a poor little stick man. 😸 in a tiny plastic cup. labeled ‘tea cup’ orchid. with all these giant ones all around it.