Staking a phal

[myorchids]

Hello Orchidboarders,
I have a phal which has recently bloomed. Being a beginner, I did not know about staking. How early should a phal be staked and how late is already too late for staking.
After reading some information on staking, I used a stick to support the spike. The end of the spike show a bud-like structure.
1. Does staking in this stage help the spike grow taller?
2. From my first orchid, i know that this bud-like thing will not grow more..Does anyone have experience with such buds?

[Rosiefuture]

Originally Posted by myorchids

Hello Orchidboarders,
I have a phal which has recently bloomed. Being a beginner, I did not know about staking. How early should a phal be staked and how late is already too late for staking.
After reading some information on staking, I used a stick to support the spike. The end of the spike show a bud-like structure.
1. Does staking in this stage help the spike grow taller?
2. From my first orchid, i know that this bud-like thing will not grow more..Does anyone have experience with such buds?

Hi Myorchids ,

Staking doesn't, to my knowledge, help the spike to grow taller. Basically it is just a way of growing Phals, keeping them upright and visible. In nature Phals do not grow like this. They grow on trees and the plant points downwards so the crown doesn't fill with water and rot. Therefore the flowers grow downward too. Some growers don't stake their Phals but allow the whole plant to lay on it's side in the pot and the flowers arch over the side.

I stake my Phals when the spike is a few inches long but you need to be VERY careful because you can easily snap them. Try to put the stake in as close to the bottom of the spike as possible so you don't over bend the spike.

The little nub at the top of the spike can continue to grow, there are no hard and fast rules with Phals, they are pretty much a law unto themselves!

Marion

[RosieC]

I agree, staking does not alter how the spikes grow, it's just a way of supporting the spikes.

I have some staked and not others, 5 of my Phals are in flower just now with a sixth in bud. 3 are staked, 2 unstaked and one has two spikes with the largest staked and the smaller one free. I generally only stake spikes when the weight of the flowers is likely to make the plant topple over without one.

Sometimes the little buds like that DO grow more, others don't. As far as I can tell it's genetic as it seems to be certain orchids which will grow futher and not others.