Does anyone else give their Phals a rest now?

[Hedge]

Am I alone in finding that the flower spikes that formed last autumn are fading fast? Do any of you think now would be a good time to cut the spikes back and start feeding the plants well so that they flower again come October?

[Bud]

a flower spike last autumn is a goner by spring....you should have cut it to send a message for the plant to grow leaves and roots to gain energy for a new spike by mid summer(if it is a hybrid) they flower several times a year....but species flower once a year or maybe twice if youre lucky.
*cut the spike and water/fertilizer liberally this warmer/growing months....then watch for the spike mid September....and keep on doing the water/fertilizer up til it blooms....spikes can open blooms in a span of 3 months then give it a month of blooms....so its every 4 months you can have blooms on hybrids
*Phalaenopsis do not have rest periods ....

[Hedge]

Ha! We aren't having summer this year!! Rain yes, summer no, but thanks for the advice - I generally get one spike every ten months per plant, although many of them do spike twice at once. Also the plants are spending a long time in flower - until now in most cases.

What I meant by rest was a rest from flowering. leaf growth always occurs from spring onwards here. we are a lot further north than you so I think this would account for the slower cycle

[RosieC]

Mine are everywhere this year. Some are just finishing while other Phals are just starting

[Jennyfleur]

I'm the same Rosie, but mine are generally like that!

[zxyqu]

Agree with Jenny and Rosie. Depending on what Phals you have (hybrids, species, near-species, etc), the plants will act how they want to, spike/bloom when they want to. I leave my spikes on all my Phals until they brown and die back, or I'm cutting the stem to make a prop. If you're getting fairly regular flowering, I'd keep on your same cycle, and hopefully some of your plants are healthy enough to give you extra flowerings as they get bigger.

[Bud]

well as for me ....I dont wait for the spike to die out brown and dry....after the flowers are wilted I cut the spike to give the plant the message to grow roots and leaves to gain more energy for bigger, brighter color and more flowers next cycle.
The more leaves you got and more bigger pencil like roots the more flowers you will get and flat, vivid colors and long lasting

[silken]

Like most here, mine do a variety of things at different times. I have two hybrids just opening theirs first buds today. And recently my blooms that have stayed fresh for months on other plants are finally finishing. I have an entire spike plus an offshoot on one NOID that has been in flower with the same blooms for months. they look great, so I certainly don't think I should cut them off! But many of mine are growing roots and leaves as well as remaining in bloom.

[RosieC]

I do cut most spikes, to let the plant concentrate on growing after the flowers have died back. However I find every Phal flowers at different times of year and I always have some flowering in the summer (though does seem more this year) I just let each plant decide when it wants to spike and don't have a season for flowering or growth.