Congrats on the spikes!

Spikes don't "need" to be staked, but it can become difficult to deal with unstaked ones, depending how long they get... Gently twist the stake into the media, as near to the spike as you can (if you choose to stake them) - be gentle when clipping or tying spikes to the stake. Best to have spikes loosely attached to the stake to avoid breaking.

I've grown and bloomed Phals in both north and west facing windows - further south than you are tho - I expect it gets hotter here in summer and haven't had trouble with the west facing windows outside of extremely hot weather, but they don't get sun quite as long.

Thanks for this thread!

I'm debating over what to do with my two spiking Phals as well. Theirs are only a couple of centimeters long, and for the past week ive been directing their growth by turning the pots so that the stems will grow towards the light.

This summer i saw that they didnt really seem to like being turned so i'll stop once the spikes have cleared the leaves. Maybe then ill see about staking or not.

Its just that I saw a spike here on the orchidboard that had grown THROUGH a leaf and it freaked me out a little :blushing:

Mine are in a west window partially shaded by the balcony of the flat upstairs, I've also got my doubts about whether theres going to be enough light in winter...Paris is pretty far north too...