terminal bud?

[mattryan]

Hello just have a quick ? I read somewhere can't remember about something called terminal bud. I have never had the very last bud open on any of my phals (noids)...but i have only had them in bloom this yr. I purchased them all that way. I have a purple phal now that has 2 spikes and it looks as though 1 is done flowering..but the last 1 has not bloomed. It also has a branch that has done nothing..it has been in bloom since i got it may 7th. Should i just cut the spike off once the last 2 flowers have fallen? There is a pic of it in my photo album. I don't want to stress the plant as it still has 1 flowering spike. So do i wait and see if anything happens or cut it off? Sorry for this long post

[PaphMadMan]

Leaving old spikes on won't stress the plant in any way. If it is strong enough to branch or make more flowers it will. Until the old spike dies back on its own it is green tissue that adds slightly to the photosynthetic ability of the plant. You may want to cut them back for esthetic reasons or to encourage branching but stressing the plant is not an issue.

[mattryan]

Thankyou for your reply. I am probably going to cut the spike as it has been in flower since i gt it may 7th. The very last bloom on the spike is it called a terminal bud? I haven't had 1 orchid that has bloomed that very last bud? I also thought that phals need a rest to produce new roots and leaves in stead of blooming? Thankyou for your help