After the Bloom

[mothinuk]

So my new phal has dropped all of its flowers after having it for about 3 months. I am happy with it so far, and feel like I am doing things correctly. I have read some places to let the stalks dry up by themselves and then some places to cut them back to the level of the leaves. One of the stalks is starting to die. The leaves look healthy and happy. Should I go ahead and cut the stalks back? Is there anything I should do to the plant in the meantime? I just bought a new potter which has a frog at the bottom, so I can keep the humidity high. Thank you so much for the help!

PS some of the roots have looked a bit soggy for the last few weeks, but have not gotten worse.

[Wjs2nd]

You might need to make sure your getting enough drainage and not rotting any roots. Orchids (most of them but not all) should never be in any standing water.

Once your spike is dry just cut it back. I usually cut my spikes all the way back to the base.

[mothinuk]

The plant is above the standing water. The plant is not actually touching the water at all. Should I wait for the stalks to dry out before cutting them back? Or can I cut them back when they are still green? Thanks again.

[magicatt]

On my phals I cut the stalk/stem back to the base of the plant once it is done flowering. Someone else may do things differently.

[tucker85]

It won't hurt your orchid to cut off the flower spike. I usually cut it about an inch from the plant. You don't need to treat the cut with anything. You should be letting the medium dry out almost completely before watering each time. That will help avoid root rot.

[mothinuk]

I thought that Phal's like humidity. This is why I bought the new pot. The set up that I have is a clear pot that sits inside the frogged planter. There is water at the bottom of the planter, but it is not touching the plant. I just put the plant in this set up about 2 days ago. Should I not have it set up like this?

Before I just had the plant in a regular planter and only needed to water it once a week or so, because the plant stayed moist.

Thanks.

[Wjs2nd]

You can cut your spike whenever it is done blooming.

Phals like humidity just not standing water. If your phal is not in standing water don't worry. I have never heard of a frogged pot.

[Bud]

a frogged pot is like a humidity tray and vase culture rolled into one... the water level is far from the roots in fact it is a pot within a pot...the only problem is: the air roots are dry and the roots inside the media get very humid to the point of being soggy...like growing african violets...there are no drain holes for the water it evaporated to the roots directly

[james mickelso]

Let's clear up some confusion here. There are not air roots and roots in the media. They are one and the same. Most orchids grow on trees and rocks with no soil. Just leaf litter and lichens. Their roots grow along whatever they are growing on and get their moisture from rain, mist, and humidity. Phals like high humidity but not wet roots. As long as the plant is kept out of contact with the water, it should be ok. But that being said, the plant must be monitored carefully at first so it can be evaluated for moisture content of the media. Having water near the roots may inhibit them from drying out and causing rot. Watch it closely. As form cutting the old flower stems, if you want a second blooming, cut an inch above the first or second node or swelling on the stem. But I prefer to cut the old stem off an inch above the base of the stem and let the plant rest.