Did I cut my phal spike too short?

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by alannanoelle

How long does it usually take for a new spike to start? My blooms all fell off around the end of June. I didn't cut the spike all the way off until a week ago, but there has only been root growth, and no new spike. I know I'm impatient, but a general time frame might help me be a little more patient!

It really depends on the plant and the growing conditions. Of the three phals I have that are starting new spikes, they finished blooming in april 2008, June 2008 and the third in October 2007. The last one was busy with a keiki after blooming, which might explain the long time between spikes! If all goes well, I should have lots of flowers in 6-8 weeks time!!
Be patient, you might have to wait several months! like bonsai said, phals ususal bloom in the winter. Until then, roots are good!!!!!

[RosieC]

It depends on conditions, mine used to be arround once a year... it would finish in about June then arround Feb or March a new one would start... they then took arround six weeks to grow (depending on temperature it can be longer) and started flowering again arround April or May.

Having said that, two new ones I got in April finished flowering arround June and now one has a spike arround 40cm high and looking about to start producing buds and the other has a 10cm spike just started.

[kiki-do]

Originally Posted by alannanoelle

How long does it usually take for a new spike to start? My blooms all fell off around the end of June. I didn't cut the spike all the way off until a week ago, but there has only been root growth, and no new spike. I know I'm impatient, but a general time frame might help me be a little more patient!

This is the time of year where you want night temperature drops to help stimulate growth. From now through about November and you should start seeing some growths happening.

[cabnc]

All the info posted is correct for most phals. But for those with violacea and bellina and I'm sure other species in their background I don't believe this to be correct. You leave the spikes alone as they will continue to grow over years adding more and more flowers each year. I'm a rookie but I believe this to be correct. Example: this is violacea alba x sumatrana. You can see the spike is different, flat, short and with a lot of nodes. The spikes keep growing and branching.

[Sandy4453]

This is the time of year when you want to cut back your spikes. Some people like to keep the spikes standing long after the flowers are spent. Sometimes spikes will produce kiekis and depending on what kind of Phal. it is, some spikes produce sub spikes hence, more flowers. But by this time of year where you are, you want to concentrate on the plant being in pristine condition by allowing all it's useful energy to go into new spiking, which it will start preparing to do when the weather starts cooling.

Your plant looks nice and healthy and is going to thank you, big time with a brand new spike, probably in the next few months. Exciting!!!!