phal spike broke just before newly developing buds! help!

[eanniew]

Hello!

I know there are similiar threads on this topic, but I am still unclear as to what to do!

Thank you in advance for any help!

Last night, to my utter dismay, I chopped off the top portion of my phal spike with an orchid clip. It took me a year to get this phal to spike! The spike was about 14 inches long and there were 7 very premature, bright pink buds developing at the end! Through my tears, I frantically taped the 5" broken tip back to the headless spike, but I am pretty sure there is no hope! I was especially upset because this was my first spike ever!

Is there any reallistic chance the tape will work? Do I cut the whole spike down to the nearest node? As for the 5" tip with premature buds, any chance if I put them in water they will continue to develope?

Thank you so much for any help!!!!

Best,

Anne

[Swamper]

I am so sorry Anne. I did that once outside while pruning some hedges with small shears and almost cut my finger off. I have cut other branches, spikes, you name it I have accidentally cut them off.
I don't know if tape will work since I haven't tried it. Hopefully someone with more experience will help you out soon. In the meantime hang on, never quit, and Welcome to the OB.

[WhiteRabbit]

Anne - I have heard that the cut spike in water can bloom - but haven't done it myself. It is also possible the spike may branch from a lower node.
Also the plant may get another spike to "compensate".
I currently have a Phal I broke the spike - tho the spike was still quite small when I did that - but has pushed out 3 new spikes from the same leaf axis. I don't know if that's common - it may depend on the individual plants genetics.
- I'll keep my fingers crossed for you

[nenella]

Annie,
I have only tried taping the spike (noid phal) once & it kept growing and one more flower bloomed .. I ended up cutting the spike down as it turned brown. It did not put out any new branches on that spike.

I also have a mini phal (noid) that has/d outgrown it's pot and therefore kept falling over.. so, leaves are broken, & one of the two spikes got broken twice! and each time I'ts kept going (with half the flowers of the undamaged spike) .. So, you never know....have a go at something if you have the time.. & keep us posted
I'll be repotting once it's finished blooming ..

[mspatt]

Hi Anne, A couple of times I have had to cut off a spike in order to give a struggling plant a chance at all the energy it could get. Yes, when I put the spike in water the buds continued to develop and bloom (for about two weeks). Hey, it's better than no flowers at all...

BTW,

[CTB]

Goodness, sorry for your troubles. But you came to the right place, Welcome to the Orchid Board, and 14,000 helpful people. Enjoy!!!!!!!

[johnblagg]

awwwww that bites ....I would not count on it working taping it if it was compleatly severed ...but I would think a later will come along from it ...I always seem to get laterals after the main bloom finishes and I often do cut a spike back when buds blast after coming home from the store on new plants just for that reason ....
and the good news is you did get it to spike and from my experiance with other plants loosing one years bloom often makes the next year even better

[eanniew]

Thank you all so much for the help! I guess I am going to untape it and place the servered top part in water. I will keep you posted as to what happens!

Thanks again!

Anne

[RosieC]

Hi Anne and welcome to Orchid Board.

I agree with the others that the best thing to do is put the top part in water and hope for the best. It is possible the lower part will put out a side branch, I've had one do that and it's also possible that the flowers on the top section will open if kept in water. I've not done that but I have kept open flowers alive for a long time that way.