Coring Phalaenopsis?

[Arizona Jeanie]

I've heard of coring (removing the growth point), or decapitating cactus and succulents to stimulate offsets and new growth.
As I eye my oversized Phal, I can't help but wonder--if I did bring myself to cut the top off, would it tend to grow a basal offset? I'm talking cutting off the top of the stem and leaves, not the flower spike.
OK, probably a dumb question because I'm not likely to cut up a healthy plant, but I'm wondering if this would work and if anyone's tried it.
Thanks

[Ray]

What you're describing is akin to "topping" a shrub.

It "might" work and it might not, but I think it's a terrible idea that will set the plant w-a-a-y back.

If you want to try to stimulate extra growth fronts, consider regular, heavy doses of Kelpak instead. It appears to work on many plants and is less detrimental to the plant as a whole.

[estación seca]

Some businesses core C&S because some never offset. But there's a risk of killing the plant. With a Phal. the stem is very short and lateral meristems very close to the apical meristem.

[Dimples]

It’s likely that if you tried it and it was successful, you’d only get one new growth point, putting you back to where you started. How enormously overgrown is the phal you mentioned? Does it simply need a deeper pot?

[Arizona Jeanie]

It's a big plant that absolutely insists on growing sideways. That would be fine, except I'm out of room and will have to get rid of something else to make a place for this one.
No room and very low humidity preclude mounting.
I'm working on making a sturdy post in an orchid pot, to repot and try to tie it up straight. We'll see how that works.
I had a different plant that almost died from stem rot. Ended up with a healthy top piece with roots, and one basal offset. They're now together in the same pot, I like the look, they're both now healthy and bloom.
So, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with topping a Phal and what the outcome was.
(Thanks Ray, "topping" is a way better word than "decapitation"!)
Don't worry, I'm not going to do it, just wondering!
Thanks for the comments and discussion. I am totally open to suggestions.
That's an 8 inch pot, lots of river-run rocks for ballast, + XL Orchiata.

[Ray]

That is the natural growth habit of such a plant. However, if you wish, the next time you repot it, you can reorient it vertically.

[Arizona Jeanie]

It's been set upright several times. Packed in with bark and rocks, tied to a stick, threatened with coring. Grow light is directly overhead, enticing it upwards.
It always gets itself sideways again, dodging the rocks. Takes sticks, bark and roots down with it. Ignores all threats, and happily keeps blooming and adding more leaves.
I realize this is its natural growth habit, I just don't have room.
It's getting a new pot with a solid post. I think it will probably then pull pot and all over sideways, it just doesn't quit. We'll see, I'll let you know!
Thanks,

[Ray]

Once you realign it, have you used a stake on the "going downhill" side to discourage that?

[Mountaineer370]

Originally Posted by Ray

Once you realign it, have you used a stake on the "going downhill" side to discourage that?

I've used this trick on a couple of mine in the past. In fact, I have one I need to repot that looks similar to, but maybe not quite as determined, as AJ's Phal. I will probably employ some combination of stakes on different sides, tied to the plant with soft string on the uphill side and pressed firmly in at an angle toward the downhill side.

Please do let us know how it goes.

[Arizona Jeanie]

I must be doing something wrong, it just takes stakes with it and goes over to the side. I find it hard to anchor the stake in the orchid bark, even with added rocks.
Can you post pictures?
Thanks!