do certain flower spikes need to be supported?

[Jeff214]

(post deleted)

I was not able to delete my thread. I simply deleted its contents. sorry!

[Roberta]

I think you just have to look at the plant to decide... and remember that as the flowers develop, the weight on the end of the spike increases. If it is very vertical, the weight tends to be evenly distributed and the spike will likely develop the strength to support itself If it's at an angle, maybe not (the law of gravity hasn't been repealed) In nature of course there's nobody to stake spikes... but on the other hand, plants with very long ones often grow hanging downward, so spikes hang that way, no problem. We mess with Mother Nature on these two ways... One, we put the plant pointing upward in the pot - for both aesthetic and maintenance reasons. Two, we breed hybrids for long, spectacular spikes. that may not be able to support their own weight. So... stake when it looks like it might need it. If you like the natural look but want to prevent tragedies like this, you can support the spike with flexible wire instead of a stake. The wire will give added strength, but let the spike arch.

[Jeff214]

yes, of course, it's a case by case thing.

I did not phrase my question well. Is it possible to delete this post? I was unable to delete it. Thanks.

[Roberta]

Sometimes you can start with one strategy and then have to modify... I have an Oncidium hyphaematicum where I used a stake that I thought would be tall enough... like 5 feet. But it kept growing... grew another couple of feet, developed a head of flowers, that ended up snapping the spike when it opened. The next year, after the spike outgrew the state, I added the wire to let it arch instead of snapping. That did the trick. (I couldn't just go to a taller stake... ran out of vertical room so I HAD to let it nod.)