Yellowing Spike As Flowers Fade?

[vlhart]

Hi guys--

Question about phalenopsis spikes. I have many phals now and typically when they're done flowering the spikes slowly fade from green and dry up/or I cut them back.

But I've had a few (admittedly less healthy ones, typically right from the store) where the spike goes yellow in a day or so starting at the flowers and going down to the plant. Is this simply a shock/adjusting to new environment situation or something more specific? Or is it normal?

And is it a good idea to cut the spike back immediately when it starts going yellow/orange?

Thanks!

[Catriona]

I'm a very new newbie, but I'm going to dive in with my tuppence-worth anyway.

I'd suggest the first thing you need to do is buy your orchids elsewhere! Your vendors obviously have a very cynical attitude to their customers & are only interested in making a quick buck from selling shoddy goods. Don't collude with them.

This in itself may solve your problem, but for info on what to look for in a phal (before purchase if possible), but certainly when you get it home, all the information you'd ever need is available here on the OB website.

Good luck!

[No-Pro-mwa]

I usually wait to cute them back when they are all dried up down to the plant. It could be shock for the ones you just bought however you don't know how long the blooms have been on there before you bought them. Are the leaves good and rigid or are they soft?

[vlhart]

Was just sort of asking in general since I've had Phals finish flowering and the spikes either stay completely green or dry up, and then I've had these ones where they turn yellow. All the Phals are relatively healthy or very healthy. One that had a spike turn yellow soon after purchase (on a very cold day) didn't have the healthiest leaves but had very good roots.

The most recent has been blooming for me for the past month since I got it (a Brother Sara Gold) and has healthy roots and leaves but then the flowers went in 1-2 days along with a yellow spike--no change in care.

So I was just wondering if a quick drop off in flowers or a yellow spike meant anything in particular. It could just have reached the end of it's flowering but I've found that in a healthy plant the flowers drop off more gradually in that case...

[Catriona]

Hi vlhart,

As usual, I've jumped in with both feet & in retrospect my post seems more like a rant, especially compared with No-Pro-mwa's more measured tones, & I'm embarrassed. Must try harder next time ...

Regards, Catriona

[No-Pro-mwa]

Originally Posted by Catriona

Hi vlhart,

As usual, I've jumped in with both feet & in retrospect my post seems more like a rant, especially compared with No-Pro-mwa's more measured tones, & I'm embarrassed. Must try harder next time ...

Regards, Catriona

No worries Catriona. I know sometime one takes things wrong then we re read the post to think now how did I take it that way the first time. And welcome to the forum.

vlhart, I really can't tell you why they some times stay on there and sometimes they get yellow fast. I know my phal - mannii as soon as the flowers are all off of there it starts getting yellow. Then I have this hybrid mini phal that lost it's blooms last fall but the stalk stayed green all winter so I left it. I know they will sometimes start from the tip again. It started growing a new spike this winter and is blooming on the new spike right now. It only has 2 more blooms to open and just about 5 days ago the old spike started getting yellow and is almost down to the plant so I will be cutting it today or tomorrow.

It probably is just the heredity of the plant itself. That is if it didn't go through a big cold spell or hot spell, I think that would do it as well.

[vlhart]

Thanks No-Pro-Mwa--guess it's just case-by-case. And I'm hoping I get more flowers off the one I have that still has a green spike

And no worries Catriona! My first post wasn't that specific--your post was totally justified. Welcome to OB!