Phal spikes drying too fast!!! :_(

[Shikitita]

Hi!!!

I wrote a post less than a week ago and I wasn't sure if writing another one in such a short time or not. But at the same time I realized that, if I didn't, not enough people who could help me would read it.

I need your help!!!

I had orchids last year to which I cut their spikes just above the 3rd or 4th node after the flowers dropping, and they were fine. However, I've done the same this year with the new ones I got, which have been doing amazing so far, and in less than two days the spikes are drying out too fast!!!

I have the feeling it might be the high temperatures we are having in England at the moment (28º C), and I am not sure what to do. I now spray them in the morning and in the evening and might have to water them again during this week despite Saturday being the last day... The living room has West and North windows, and I keep them on the second one through the day with the small window a bit open so they have air flowing and it's also not too hot. Should I move them to the bedroom where we have an East window and after midday it feels cooler?

I really don't know what to do, and I was doing so far this time with these orchids, that seeing how all of a sudden it's going so bad makes me worry. (One I had with barely any roots and which started growing a new leaf and new roots has pretty much given up.)

I've attached pictures of the two orchids affected right now, one of which I wrote my post about the roots going in the soil or staying in mid-air...

All help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Skayc1]

I think sometimes the spikes die back down after blooming. I'm new to growing orchids so that is just someting I read, some don't some do.

[Shikitita]

I know. I am always scared when it's time for the orchids to drop the flowers as I am not sure what to do afterwards...

They're both so focused, tho, in growing roots and new leaves (and so is the other one that's started to drop them and the spike is drying already), that I think best thing will be cutting the spikes completely at the base, so they can gather strengh, grow more leaves and roots if necessary, and hopefully I will have new spikes in a few months...

Either that or I'll just give up growing them.

[WhiteRabbit]

It's not unusual for spikes to die (even very quickly sometimes) after blooming. If temps in your growing area got much higher than usual, that could have been a factor. But 28C (around 82F, I think?), doesn't seem warm enough to bother a Phal.

Be careful not to over water by spraying.

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by Shikitita

I know. I am always scared when it's time for the orchids to drop the flowers as I am not sure what to do afterwards...

They're both so focused, tho, in growing roots and new leaves (and so is the other one that's started to drop them and the spike is drying already), that I think best thing will be cutting the spikes completely at the base, so they can gather strengh, grow more leaves and roots if necessary, and hopefully I will have new spikes in a few months...

Either that or I'll just give up growing them.

I agree with the first point - cutting the spike would help to gather strength.
I don't see a reason for giving up! Please, don't.

Some Phals take their time and it takes much longer for them to rebloom, even longer than a year. Others take a break for a few months and start it all over again.

Till your Phal is well established, it would be impossible to know its character and growing patterns. But with patience and some TLC - it will happen!

[james mickelso]

Lots of folks try and coax a second or even third bloom out of their phals and most of the time they succeed but pay the price when their prizes can't keep up and die or become very lethargic and don't bloom or even put out leaves and roots for a long time. Flowering is very stressful on most orchids. So trying to get a second bloom out of one becomes even more stressful. Once the phal flowers, cut the flower stem all the way to the bottom. If the phal wants to rebloom, it will do so by putting out another spike. But most will put out a new leaf or two and more roots. Phals don't have pbulbs and their leaves take on the function of pbulbs. Without new leaves the plant has few reserves to put out more flowers. Cut the spent flower spikes off and give the phal good culture and when it is ready it will put on another beautiful show.

[Shikitita]

Thank you very much for your help and support!

I finally did it this morning as one of them was getting really bad. I hope I got on time because the whole spike was completely dry down to the base, and I am worried it might affect the rest of the plant.

I've attached pictures so you can see how they've ended up. Now I guess it's just patience and hope.

Funny thing is that the second spike cut (the worst one) is from my purple tiger, of which you will see the last picture. Out of the two spikes she had she hasn't dropped any from this one yet!!! Yay! So pretty! The other orchid still has a last flower standing. Hang in there! xD

I think, even if they had small stems popping out from the main spikes like my pink one, I will cut them down to the base completely.

Again, thank you all so much!

[WhiteRabbit]

A spike dying down won't affect the plant, unless it's dying from over or under watering, too cold. And if that were the case, the spike itself dying doesn't affect the plant, but the cause of it dying does. So there shouldn't be a worry about cutting "in time".

[RosieC]

I agree with Sonya. I've sometimes let them die right back and cut tnem of later and it does no harm.

[theanalyst]

No worries, as Sonya said your phal will be fine. I often cut the spike back, because I don't often have luck with them developing new growth anyway. Just like the flowers will eventually die, so do the spikes.