cut above or below the node

[joeyiac]

i'm confused, do i cut above or below the first flower node on the flower spike to try to make it rebloom? thanks, joe

[WhiteRabbit]

Phal spike? Above a node - any new growth comes from the nodes.

[joeyiac]

Ya Phal, thanks, joe

[tucker85]

I think it's supposed to be above the second node, if I remember correctly. In any case I've had phals rebloom without cutting the spike at all. I just leave the spike on the plant, as long as it's still green. Some will produce new buds on the end of the spike and some will produce a side branch. Of course some of them won't do anything at all.

[Ray]

My advice is to either do nothing or remove the spike altogether.

Trimming a spike to induce reblooming is akin to "wind damage" to the spike in nature; the plant exerts the effort to rebloom in order to potentially extend its gene pool. However, as the plant has already expended its stores for the original spike, those new flowers will be fewer and smaller, and will serve to weaken the plant.

By just leaving it alone, you let the plant decide if it has the energy to rebloom. As long as the spike is green, the possibility still exists. If it starts to yellow, remove it.

[Fairorchids]

If you want to cut (using a clean sterilized tool), it should be about 1" above the first unbloomed node.

However, if it is a yellow, orange or green Phal, don't cut. These will often extend the old spike with new buds.

[NYCorchidman]

I agree, or in another words, right below the node where the first flower was attached.

Your spike may or may not rebloom, but only time will tell.

As long as it stays green, then there will follow more flowers off that same spike.

When? Only time will tell.

I have phals that will branch out and rebloom shortly after the cutting, but others will wait a whole another year to bloom until its natural blooming season returns.


Also regarding the flower color and its habit, I think it is meant that any phal with light green & super glossy leaves (like the bellina types) whose spike should not be cut as these tend to bloom forever and ever.
And these come in other colors such as magenta, white and such.

"Regular" phal hybrids comes in yellow and green and orange as well and there are lots of them, so I thought I would clarify this.
Good luck!

[joeyiac]

Thanks all, Joe