Cutting dendrobium spikes?

[ryfrazier]

I'm new to orchids, and especially new to this board. I've got a collection of about 15 plants - phals, dendrobium, epigeneium, encyclia, epidendrum.

I've rescued a few out-of-bloom dendrobium from a local garden center. Some of them had finished blooming and the spike still remained. I was wondering what protocol is for cutting them - same as with phals?

[camille1585]

Dens won't bloom again off old spikes, so the best is to cut them off close to their point of origin on the plant. I don't know if it's the same as phals, since on phals you either cut them off at the bottom, or cut below the lowest bloom to promote side spikes!

[Ray]

I also urge you to read the following:
Spike Cutting

[RosieC]

Great page on your website Ray. I think your advise pretty much sums up a good aproach.

I usually remove a Phal spike to let the plant concentrate on leaves and roots, but you are right... the plant should know if it can support more blooms so why not let nature take it's course.

[ryfrazier]

Thanks quite a lot for the responses, guys. I wasn't trying to say that den. blossoms in the same way as phal., just asking if the approach to cutting the spike was the same, i.e. as close to the plant as possible.

Just wanted to clarify - don't want my new friends on Orchid Board thinking I'm too out of the mix.

[RosieC]

Hi Ryfrazier, don't worry that's how I read your initial post.

As I've already said, I think Ray gives good advice on this issue.

[learning2letgo]

After my two dendros finished blooming, I cut the flower stems as close to the base of the stem as I could. The old stems eventually dried up and I just snapped them off. New growths are emerging under the plants now, so best of luck with yours