I don't stake most orchids. If I think the spike is likely to break I do, but most I don't. The most likely for me to stake are Paphs to hold the spikes straight, however i have one with two flowers just finishing that I never bothered staking.
My Phals spikes either hold them selves up on their own, or curve gracefully. My Den Phal types usually hold them selves up on their own, and other types usually either don't have spikes, or they are quite short and never need staking. My Enc cochleata is currently holding it's spike up on it's own as is my Zygo.
I do have a Phal just now whose spike curved gracefully down over the edge of the mantelpiece, however it folded near the plant. BUT instead of trying to straighten it, I just left it bent, and when I water I try not to disturb the folded spike.. and you know what!... it continued to open ALL the flowers, and the flowers have now been fully open a couple of months and are still going strong... all with a fold in the spike! I think if I had tried to straighten it, even just briefly, I would have done more damage and it would have died off... but leaving it it just carried on doing it's own thing.
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