what to do with old flower stalk

[oscar freak]

im getting ready to repot my phal but not to sure what to do with the old flower stalk,its flowered on there twice already and seems healthy.do i leave it on or cut it away?

[Suzanne17]

I don't cut a stalk unless it's withered and brown OR the plant is in distress and needs to direct its energy to roots and leaves.

[RosieC]

I think it's one of those things that's really up to you.

I cut them away. I do that anyway but sometimes they have been left and when I repot it's just easier to handle a plant without it, but that's the only reason. If you want to leave it on and think you can repot without breaking it then go for it. In fact go for it anyway if you want... the worst that can happen is you break it and if you do just cut it away then

[sweetjblue]

oscar freak,

Leaving the stalk on your plant isn't going to hurt it.

But you may want to consider removing it. Having it rebloom again will only give a few flowers at best. Or you could hope that you'll get a keiki.
But if what your truly after is a nice infloresense of flowers I would remove it.
If the plant is in good health and grown properly you should get a new spike next spring or summer depending on its normal bloom time.

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do!

Judi

[oscar freak]

thanks,i'm so used to cutting away dead old flower stems in the garden first time iv had to deal with a flower spike that flowers on the old one.

---------- Post added at 08:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:49 AM ----------

i would love to get a keiki,but i'd much rather get a nice flowering next year,i got flowers from around march this year[COLOR="Silver"]

[Suzanne17]

Originally Posted by sweetjblue

oscar freak,

Leaving the stalk on your plant isn't going to hurt it.

But you may want to consider removing it. Having it rebloom again will only give a few flowers at best. Or you could hope that you'll get a keiki.
But if what your truly after is a nice infloresense of flowers I would remove it.
If the plant is in good health and grown properly you should get a new spike next spring or summer depending on its normal bloom time.

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do!

Judi

I thought some phals rebloomed on their own without being forced...their parentage allowed for that kind of vigor and it wasn't detrimental to the plant or to the quality of flower that resulted.

[sweetjblue]

Originally Posted by Suzanne17

I thought some phals rebloomed on their own without being forced...their parentage allowed for that kind of vigor and it wasn't detrimental to the plant or to the quality of flower that resulted.

Suzanne, I'm just assuming (and maybe incorrectly) that the plant oscar freak is talking about is a NoID, be it a standard or mini. Very rarely do you find novelties in the big box stores.

Any Phal that still has a green spike always has the potential to rebloom from that spike in additional to any new spikes it may grow. Standards when they rebloom usually only produce a few blooms on an old spike. I'm not talking forcing the spike just letting what it wants to do naturally. Nothing detrimental in that.

With novelities you generally only get a few blooms per spike anyways as their spikes are known to be on the short side.. In most cases a grower will leave those spikes on. Novelities tend to bloom on both old and new spikes at the same time, hence a better display.

I believe what your thinking of when you say vigor is more an individual species characteristics and what they bring to a hybrid cross. Any plant can be vigorous if grown well and cultural requirements are met.


Judi

[Suzanne17]

Originally Posted by sweetjblue

I believe what your thinking of when you say vigor is more an individual species characteristics and what they bring to a hybrid cross. Any plant can be vigorous if grown well and cultural requirements are met.


Judi

Yes...hybrid vigor, right? I have one NoID that has a lovely green spike, putting out roots and leaves, happy as a clam. Who knows what was used in it's breeding. And most of my novelties and primary hybrids seem to do that too. The other NoIDs will drop their blooms and then the stalks wither.

I think I just wanted reinforcement that I wasn't hurting my phals (or hurting their potential blooms) when I leave spikes on...thanks!

[oscar freak]

this is the afore mentioned phal with the second blooming on the old stalk,doesnt look to shabby,the plant has a lot of sentimental value,i inherited it from an aunt who recently passed away and would like to do good by it.

[sweetjblue]

oscar freak

My condolenses to you. All the more reason to be concerned with your plants happiness.

From what I see, it looks very happy and healthy!

Take good care of her!


Judi