How to harvest Phalaenopsis flower - Orchid Board

bluenight · #1 02-12-2012, 11:28 PM

My phalaenopsis branches tend to wilt within 24 hours after cutting (I put it into water after cutting). Does anyone know?

camille1585 · #2 02-13-2012, 06:06 AM

This may seem a bit obvious, but the best way to get the blooms to last is to leave the spike on the plant. There they will last 2-4 months depending on the bloom texture and growing conditions, while cut spikes will never last as long in water.

Why they don't last more than a day in water, I don't know.

RosieC · #3 02-13-2012, 08:12 AM

When I've broken a spike in the past and tried it in water it's never lasted long. I've had ones wilt in 24 hours, others have lasted a couple of days.

One trick I heard was to put clear lemonade in the water. I can't say if I've noticed a difference or not though.

Paul Mc · #4 02-13-2012, 08:24 AM

Typically, I put a little (very little) sugar in my water and mix it. The sugar helps normal (most non-orchid) flowers keep their color and from wilting just a bit longer. I don't know if this would work for orchids or not, but am assuming it would be the same.

camille1585 · #5 02-13-2012, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

Typically, I put a little (very little) sugar in my water and mix it. The sugar helps normal (most non-orchid) flowers keep their color and from wilting just a bit longer. I don't know if this would work for orchids or not, but am assuming it would be the same.

I do that with cut flowers, and add a chuck of charcoal and a drop of bleach to keep the water fresh.

One reason I think the sugar may help is that perhaps it creates enough of an imbalance of osmotic pressure that more water gets absorbed by the stem to balance out the sugar and so blooms stay more turgent.

Paul Mc · #6 02-13-2012, 08:49 AM

Ooooh, I never thought about the drop of bleach and charcoal, though I had heard of both being done! I'm going to have to start doing that now! Thanks Camille!

jkrobins2 · #7 02-13-2012, 10:10 AM

Some orchids do better than others as, "cut flowers". In our experience the best are full stalks of cymbidiums which may last for several weeks. If you want to overwhelm a GOOD friend, and have cymbidiums to burn, give them a couple stalks of newly opening cymbidiums and watch their reaction.

Discus · #8 02-13-2012, 10:28 AM

Half an aspririn also seems to work quite well instead of bleach.

bluenight · #9 02-14-2012, 06:03 AM

I divide the phal flower into 2 bucket, the first one was treated with sugar (5g/l), and the second with aspirine (2 pills/l). Results, i lost 30 phal branches in 2 day. What the hell is this

camille1585 · #10 02-14-2012, 06:15 AM

I read on internet that the Phals used in the cut flower industry are selected especially for their good life span in water, usually they have heavier textured blooms. Thin petaled blooms usually don't last very well. I also read that if they start to wilt, you should put them in 40C water for a little while. That being said, info I found on a cut flower producers website says to expect Phal blooms to last from 5 days to 5 weeks...

If you are buying these already cut, are you freshening the cut before putting them in water?