Phalaenopsis spikes are a lot like asparagus stalks. The top several inches will snap off very easily, and then there is a transition into a woody lower stalk. Those 2-3 transition inches can be manipulated into fairly sharp bends for cascades etc. They seem woody at first but if you wiggle them for a while with thumb and fore finger using medium pressure the area under your fingers will slowly loosen up and bend like steamed wood. You can bind the bend (can be maybe 20 degrees before it kinks) onto a stiff bent wire, and then repeat the next day when the next higher bit of soft spike stem hardens. You get a feel for the soft part that will snap off vs the transition. Maybe even try it with thin asparagus first.
Strips of panty hose are good for binding to wire. You can even cinch it down a little tighter and increase the bend over several hours.
The stiff wire I used was the stuff sold in straight lengths (not rolls) for hanging ceiling panels. You can make all kinds of things for orchids with it such as pot hangers and simple hook-ended spike stakes.
If the woody stalk kinks you can tape it to a chop stick like a broken leg splint and save the day, but if the top snaps off all you can do is hope for a new side branch.
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