To cut or not to cut

[theredhead]

To cut, or not to cut: that is the question:
Whether ‘tis nobler for the plant to suffer
The buds and branches of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against the drain of energy,
And by opposing end them? To branch; to bloom;
No more; and by a rest we hope to say we end
The side shoots and the hope of extra flowers
That spike is heir to, ‘tis a fulfillment
Devoutly to be wish’d. To leaf, to spike;
To spike; perchance to bloom: Ay, there’s the joy…

Pros & cons regarding the cutting of old spikes once a phal is done blooming?

Thanks.

-the redhead-

[snow]

i would cut; to re-energize the plant

[RosieC]

:iagree:

I cut, so the plant can put energy into growing, then when it is ready to put up new spike there will be a nice healthy plant to put on a good display.

[nenella]

I normally cut too! with one exception- I have a white Noid Phal which has been blooming since August 2006! It originally had 2 spikes (I cut one off, when it turned brown) The other spike has just kept on flowering (At the moment it has fully an opened flower, one which will open in the next week and still forming another) During all this time she's grown 2 new leaves (lost none) the roots look really healthy,the leaves are huge and very hard.. oh ya it also put out 3 keikies which grew between actual flowers on the spike..I contemplate cutting the spike off every few months-But I end up leaving her be..

[camille1585]

I also cut. The only times that I don't cut is if I'm trying to get a keiki off a phal. I want keikis of my favorite phals, so that if anything happens to the original plant, I still have a copy!

[Phalguy]

I`m also a cutter except on Phal species and yellow Phal since they have the tendency to bloom on old spike!

Claude

[Sandy4453]

I usually wait until around October. I want a keiki off a spike more than buds. I haven't been lucky yet but that's my objective in keeping the spike. If nothing happens by then, I will cut to start preparing them for the next blooming.

[quiltergal]

I also cut. The reward is much greater in the next bloom cycle. I do have one that is determined to be in bloom. Dtps. Malibu Merlot put out a magnificent spike last spring and it stayed in bloom through the fall. I finally cut the spike off in October. About 3 weeks after I cut it off it started a new one which is now putting on another spectacular show.

[Hedge]

I cut if the spike dies back, and goes brown. If it is still trying to make buds at the tip I let it be. If the tip has stopped making buds then I cut back two nodes from the base to hopefully promote a side spike. I've never had a keiki, though.

I too had a white Phal with large flowers that was a sequence bloomer and the stem eventually gave up last autumn after flowering non stop for two years. There really is merit in being patient!

[quiltingwacko]

Phalguy May I ask what that is on your avatar? It is lovely! Carol