flower spike

[karla]

my phalaenopsis have new spike. do I need cut old one.

I what do I need after flowering?

sorry for bad english

[Oscarman]

Hi Karla,

That second spike is an off shoot of the original spike, originating from a node on the stem. Chances are that the original spike would have continued to develop new buds if it was going to by now, instead it grew a new shoot. I would use a sterile cutting instrument and carefully cut off the old stem just above where the new one has sprouted.

Often Phalaenopsis will flower again from a previous flower spike, either at the growing tip or from a node further down the spike (such as yours has done).

After flowering, I will usually leave the flower stem attached to the plant until it shows me what it wants to do (grow from the tip, branch from a node or die down) - then I bring out the knife! Another method is to cut just above the first node on the flower stem once the flowers have faded in an effort to encourage branching. Personally, I prefer to have my plants flower and when the flowers fade allow them time to put out new growth and build new energy reserves for the next flower cycle.

Good luck - please keep us posted with some pics of your flowers.

[karla]

thanke you very much Dave, I will post it

[smartie2000]

I normally don't cut it unless it is dying. The old spike has the potential to produce buds as well depending on the plant.

[Shadow]

I cut only dead part of the spike. Sometimes the spike stop dying just above one of the nodes and it can start to grow again from that node.

[orcdfrk]

I'd leave it alone until you're sure that its not gonna do anything for you.

[Gin]

I usually cut them down in the late summer fall to give the plant energy for the next season . Gin

[Frdemetr]

Hybrid Phal very often grows new spikes this way. I do the same that Oscarman posted, and it works 100%!
Frederico

[justatypn]

Dave gave great advised, which in return goes along with Gin, cutting back in late summer/fall. Phal are extremely generous and forgiving...

[Ross]

I agree with those that recommend NOT cutting the spike till it shows what it wants to do. Yours, however has spoken. I strongly doubt the original spike will do anything except die back so I recommend cutting it off just above (1/4" or so) the new spike. Just keep in mind, often the flowers on the secondary (and laters) spikes are smaller than the original flowers.