How do I trim this?

[MrsMarine]

This orchid had purple flowers at one point and more leaves that have since turned yellow and fallen off. I'm not sure how or if I should trim it back. If so where?
I do not know orchid terms, so if you suggest to trim the stalk, cane, or whatever, can you please explain which is which... Thanks

[dounoharm]

you have a dendrobium of sorts....and you can cut the obviously dead flower spike or stem down to the cane of the plant...which is that fatter looking stem coming up from the medium...

[RosieC]

Yes, it's a Dendrobium Orchid.

If you look at the tallest bit, you will see that there is a fatter part at the bottom, this is the 'Cane'. The thinner part at the top is the Spike'. You should be able to see where it changes from one to the other, arround where the yellow leaf is and it looks like there is a slight nobbly bit between them.

Cut off the spike just above where it joins the cane, as close as you can withought cutting the cane part.

The other parts are all old canes. You want to leave these. While they are old, they will still be storing nutrients for the orchid.

I would have thought you can remove the wooded stake that was supporting the flowering cane & spike. If the cane can hold up without it remove it, but if you think it needs the stake to hold it then you can leave it.

The new cane is looking good and seems to have a lot of nice roots growing. Once that is fully grown it hopefully with produce a spike and flower. You may want to increase the light to help trigger flowering. I have found my Dens of this type (there are different types of Dens but this looks like it's a Den Phal type or something similar) respond well to high (but indirect) light. If you do increase the light do it in stages, leaving it several days in each increased light area, if you move it too quickly to higher light it may burn.

[CTB]

Welcome to the Orchid Board. You have come to the right place for lots of help. Enjoy!!! Hope you'll make lots of posts.