Quote:
Originally Posted by orchidsarefun
my one had 2 spikes this past year. I cut them to the obligatory above-2nd-node. Nothing. No new spikes either.....yet.
What I can say about this hybrid is that it is a vigorous grower - has lots of new roots and leaves.
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Mine had one spike, but one branching spike. So this newbie is going to be the second branching.
I see lots of these in stores now, many with double spikes. very tempting while waiting for my own to flower again. hmmmm....
Regarding cutting spikes, it's up to you, but I honestly do not recommend cutting the spike above the 2nd node, whoever started doing that.
The only good reason to cut the spike is for aesthetic reason or safety issue. Sometimes I literally run into a spent spike (not easy to see it's there when there are no flowers on the spike) and it poke right in my face.
Many hybrids will voluntarily terminate the life of its spent spike(s) by turning brown and dry up some time after flowering. usually right before resuming growth for the warm season.
Some will maintain their spent spike(s). These spikes may or may not bloom again. Sometimes, keikis are formed on the spikes.
By the way, if you want to "encourage" reblooming on a spent spike by cutting, then I would cut right under node where the first flower was attached to rather than the 2nd node from the base.
Different people have different opinions, but my belief is that it's ultimately up to the plants to decide whether or not to make more flowers.
By leaving more nodes on the spent spikes, you're giving your plant more options to sprout out of.
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