Straightening Phal Bloom Spikes

[czygyny]

Most of my Phals are easy to get their bloom spikes up vertical before letting it come back horizontal.

This particular one is a very vigorous Home Depot noid, and it likes to put out its spikes in a horizontal direction, something I would rather not have happen as it does not look as well as flowers carried up over the plant and it takes up valuable growing space.

Look what it does when I try to clip it to a stake! It bucks and fights it all the way. No matter how I clip it, it will push at the clips and go any way but up.

Last time it bloomed the spike snapped itself nearly in half when I took a bottom clip off for a day.

It is just about tall enough for me to let it go on its own in this image, but does anyone have any ideas on how to manage this wild bronco a bit better next time?

[digriz]

I can usually get mine to grow pretty straight if I keep adjusting them to the window so they grow towards it and if you keep at it you can get it to grow up.

[RosieC]

That one really doesn't want to go up does it!

To be honest if it's that determined not to then I'm not sure what you can do. Even light changes are likely to twist it about.

[No-Pro-mwa]

How about trying a wire and maybe winding it around so it maybe goes a little up and a little over?

[orchidsarefun]

I would leave the bottom 2 clips in the photo and remove the rest. Then see what happens. In nature there is no support and I have noticed that if you don't clip at all, the spike grows thicker and sturdier. It may bend too, a cascading effect.
Ideally you should turn the plant every day so that all sides have equal access to light, don't know if that's practical for you.

[Orchidgirl83]

My I-Hsin Fireball did that same thing to me! I staked the spike, and it promptly started zig zagging all over the place. I just let it do whatever it wanted since the spike did not get very long.

[czygyny]

It is just about the height I want it, so I may just let it go. Wherever I've put those little plastic clips it has just strained against them, and it's not like they are so restrictive. I can almost hear it grumbling and grunting over the indignity. It puts out some jumbo pink blush on pink flowers so getting it up above the foliage is important.

I may try the wire next time. I have copper wire from my bonsai days laying about somewhere.

[RosieC]

I'm not a fan of those plastic 'butterfly' clips until a spike has stopped growing, as they seem to grip the spike too much.

I either use a little loose loop of string or wire, that just pulls the spike towards the stake (but with a gap between) or clips like these figure of eight ones. I've not found where to buy these from though... they come on new NoID Phals in most cases and I collect them up to use again. The small side grips tight on the stake, and the larger side holds the spike loosly enough to let it grow through it. The spikes push up from the bottom as well as growing from the top, so need to be able to move against the stake.



Doesn't help with getting yours straight, but just though I would mention it as you said about the clips gripping too tightly.

[Island Girl]

Wow, that guy is determined!! Talk about stubborn! Lol Rosie, I do the same with those clips, we have them here on our NOID's at big box stores.... czygyny, I think you might just have to get more NOID's so you can get clips like that

Seriously tho, I would just let that spike do what it wanted once, and see how it turns out... Do you have a display area, that gets decent light where u could put it, so it could do its thing? Other than that, I'd say go with what No-Pro-mwa said, and bonsai wire it. Also, Kelly's Korner has these stakes, that are loose spirals, to hold inflorences, they are pretty and I like them, but they are kinda expensive, so I'm gonna make some myself, maybe these would work for you? (and you could make some for yourself as well?). Stakes, Spiral Support (Hangers & Supports) : Kelley's Korner Orchid Supplies, We offer everything to grow great Orchids!

[czygyny]

Originally Posted by RosieC

I'm not a fan of those plastic 'butterfly' clips until a spike has stopped growing, as they seem to grip the spike too much.

I either use a little loose loop of string or wire, that just pulls the spike towards the stake (but with a gap between) or clips like these figure of eight ones. I've not found where to buy these from though... they come on new NoID Phals in most cases and I collect them up to use again. The small side grips tight on the stake, and the larger side holds the spike loosly enough to let it grow through it. The spikes push up from the bottom as well as growing from the top, so need to be able to move against the stake.
////
Doesn't help with getting yours straight, but just though I would mention it as you said about the clips gripping too tightly.

I don't like those 8 clips, I am always afraid of breaking or damaging the spike having to push it through. Especially this orchid since it has a more robust spike than most of the others. I do understand your thinking though, they do not grip the stem so much as guide it.

Originally Posted by Island Girl

Wow, that guy is determined!! Talk about stubborn! Lol Rosie, I do the same with those clips, we have them here on our NOID's at big box stores.... czygyny, I think you might just have to get more NOID's so you can get clips like that

Seriously tho, I would just let that spike do what it wanted once, and see how it turns out... Do you have a display area, that gets decent light where u could put it, so it could do its thing? Other than that, I'd say go with what No-Pro-mwa said, and bonsai wire it. Also, Kelly's Korner has these stakes, that are loose spirals, to hold inflorences, they are pretty and I like them, but they are kinda expensive, so I'm gonna make some myself, maybe these would work for you? (and you could make some for yourself as well?). Stakes, Spiral Support (Hangers & Supports) : Kelley's Korner Orchid Supplies, We offer everything to grow great Orchids!

Why do you think I buy more orchids, its just to get those little dragonfly clips!

Really, though, the spike does not seem to follow the strongest light. It is in a east window with a four foot fluorescent plant light and at present it is pointing away from it all...I guess it is just like me, stubborn and willful.

At least it didn't strain and break itself like last time. Even broken nearly in half and taped up, it still produced a spike of flowers and then a secondary spike a bit later just below the break.

I've removed all but the bottom two clips and it looks like it is going to arch over the foliage instead of burying itself in it as it is wont to do.

I'll post an image of it when it blooms out.