not stake Phal spike?

[VickiC]

Do any of you not stake the spikes on your potted Phals? If there are those of you who do not, have you experienced problems by not doing so - and what were they? Approx. 1/2 of my 25 Phals are potted and all but 3 of these have spikes of various heights. I have not staked any of them because I enjoy watching the spikes grow naturally (well, as natural as possible in a pot).

I am begginning to get a bit concerned because of what I have been reading recently in past threads (and post replies) concerning this because it seems that most people do stake spikes in pots.

Now that I've thought more about it, I assume there is a possibilty of snapping from weight of the buds and blooms (??), but this is only my 2nd Phal rebloom year and I didn't have that problem last time (of course, I had few spikes then...and none were as tall as this season.)

If it would be safer and advisable to stake, I will try to do so on the ones that are not already (from what I've read) too tall.

I would appreciate any advise that you can give to me.
Vicki

[Call_Me_Bob]

For me, it depends on the plant. Sometimes the spikes can support themselves sometimes they can't so i think it's really up to what you like. I would try different things. If the plant looks like it would be nice with a traditional stake, then go ahead.

It's up to you and what you enjoy most. I've never heard of them breaking, but it could happen

[VickiC]

Bob, I decided that I would stake the longest one you see in the picture slightly just to be on the safe side. I don't have another spike that's quite as long and "thick" (for lack of the correct word) as this one. I don't know how long and in what postion the others will grow before they bud, so I think I'll just wait a bit longer and monitor them to see what their growth habit (etc.) is going to be.
Thanks for your help!
Vicki

Originally Posted by help

For me, it depends on the plant. Sometimes the spikes can support themselves sometimes they can't so i think it's really up to what you like. I would try different things. If the plant looks like it would be nice with a traditional stake, then go ahead.

It's up to you and what you enjoy most. I've never heard of them breaking, but it could happen

[boytjie]

It's worth remembering that in the wild, most Phal species will grow "upside-down," hanging from a tree limb. This helps avoid crown rot from frequent rains, but also would, I'd imagine, allow a spike to hang straight down, thus making weight on a bent bloom spike a non-issue. "Domesticated" Phals are generally grown in pots, a human convention, so you might need that stake to counteract the fact that the plant and blooms are growing upright. As mentioned above, it depends on the plant. Keep an eye on it and see how heavy the spike gets. -Stephen

[VickiC]

Hi Stephen,
Thanks for your advice.

One of my potted phals did develop crown rot not long ago, and that is just one more reason that I prefer mounting, as you said (the Mother phal grew two baby keikes, by the way. ) I also like the natural plant growth habit of a Phal (upside down). My only problem is that I don't have much room left for mounted plants in my greenhouse, although I know I'll come up with more in time.

I plan to do as you suggested and keep a closer watch on the other spikes.
Vicki

Originally Posted by boytjie

It's worth remembering that in the wild, most Phal species will grow "upside-down," hanging from a tree limb. This helps avoid crown rot from frequent rains, but also would, I'd imagine, allow a spike to hang straight down, thus making weight on a bent bloom spike a non-issue. "Domesticated" Phals are generally grown in pots, a human convention, so you might need that stake to counteract the fact that the plant and blooms are growing upright. As mentioned above, it depends on the plant. Keep an eye on it and see how heavy the spike gets. -Stephen

[WhiteRabbit]

I don't know if the spike would be likely to snap, tho it will bow with weight of blooms. I frequently don't stake spikes on various types of orchids. I have a couple phals now (no id, both the same) with multiple spikes, none staked, however these both grow upright spikes, small blooms, sequential bloomer, so the don't bow, but do grow towards the window, and even with constant turning of the pot it is now impossible to fit the plant on the windowsill - so that's one drawback to not staking.

Unstaked, the spike can take up a lot of space, and make the plant difficult to handle for watering and such.

I happen to like the natural unstaked look, but it's frequently impractical.

Attaching pix of unstaked Onc Sharry Baby spike - I know your question is regarding Phals, but demonstrates the same - spike heavily bowed from blooms - I love the look, but makes it hard to find space for it

first photo is just as buds began to open, spike still fairly upright

[VickiC]

I've never thought about certain phals needing staking help wheras some don't. As I've said in the past about other things, this is one more note that I'll add to my new growers list of things to keep in mind.

I grow a few orchids inside but most of them are in my greenhouse. The ones that are spiking are out there, so I don't have the issue of needing more room inside for spikes. I would enjoy growing more orchids in my home, but unfortunately that's just not feasible for me. I don't have but 2 windows inside that emit a fairly good amount of light to my plants and that amount is not as much as I would like - so I'm not expecting to see spiking indoors (but who knows....I may get lucky ??)

Your oncidiums are very pretty, so obviously, you are growing your orchids well.
Thanks for your help,
Vicki

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I don't know if the spike would be likely to snap, tho it will bow with weight of blooms. I frequently don't stake spikes on various types of orchids. I have a couple phals now (no id, both the same) with multiple spikes, none staked, however these both grow upright spikes, small blooms, sequential bloomer, so the don't bow, but do grow towards the window, and even with constant turning of the pot it is now impossible to fit the plant on the windowsill - so that's one drawback to not staking.

Unstaked, the spike can take up a lot of space, and make the plant difficult to handle for watering and such.

I happen to like the natural unstaked look, but it's frequently impractical.

Attaching pix of unstaked Onc Sharry Baby spike - I know your question is regarding Phals, but demonstrates the same - spike heavily bowed from blooms - I love the look, but makes it hard to find space for it

first photo is just as buds began to open, spike still fairly upright

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by VickiC

I've never thought about certain phals needing staking help wheras some don't. As I've said in the past about other things, this is one more note that I'll add to my new growers list of things to keep in mind.

I grow a few orchids inside but most of them are in my greenhouse. The ones that are spiking are out there, so I don't have the issue of needing more room inside for spikes. I would enjoy growing more orchids in my home, but unfortunately that's just not feasible for me. I don't have but 2 windows inside that emit a fairly good amount of light to my plants and that amount is not as much as I would like - so I'm not expecting to see spiking indoors (but who knows....I may get lucky ??)

Your oncidiums are very pretty, so obviously, you are growing your orchids well.
Thanks for your help,
Vicki

aw thanks - some of my orchids do better than others ...
I don't know how much light your windows get, but I have a number of orchids that do well on windowsills (many Oncidium alliance, latouria Dens, Phal, Paph. higher light plants are outside in warm weather months, but then do well in a south facing window from mid-fall thru mid-spring)

[Shirley]

[QUOTE=WhiteRabbit;360474]Unstaked, the spike can take up a lot of space, and make the plant difficult to handle for watering and such.

QUOTE]

Being somewhat limited in space, I totally agree with the above remark. Also I personally like the way the blooms display when the upright stake is attached just below the lowest bloom. However some phal spikes tend to grow horizontally and would probably snap if you tried to pull them upright -- those I leave alone. Each blooming can be different from the one before so one has to play it by ear, and each to his own taste of course!

(:

[Call_Me_Bob]

Being somewhat limited in space, I totally agree with the above remark. Also I personally like the way the blooms display when the upright stake is attached just below the lowest bloom. However some phal spikes tend to grow horizontally and would probably snap if you tried to pull them upright -- those I leave alone. Each blooming can be different from the one before so one has to play it by ear, and each to his own taste of course!

(:[/QUOTE]


If you are sure you want to have the spike staked up before it matures, you can stake it while the spike is developing and not hardened yet. But one must be delicate