Can you cut a spike to initiate growth?

[Nanotyrannus]

Just as the title says. If I wanted to make a freshly bought Phal start its growth cycle quickly, could I achieve this by cutting off the spike? Is this advisable?

[Orchid Whisperer]

I've never heard of doing that.

However, if you have a weak Phalaenopsis that is blooming, you can conserve some of the plant's resources by cutting the spike. Those resources can then be used by the plant for growth.

IME, Phalaenopsis always deem to be growing. If there is a cycle to their growth, it is more subtle than for sympodial orchids such as Cattleyas or Catasetums.

[POLKA]

They do most of their vegetive growth--tops and roots--when the night temps can be kept above 70-75, and daytime highs near 85-90. They can be kept in perpetual bloom by keeping 65 night, max 75 days.

Rex

[estación seca]

When they're happy they grow and bloom at the same time. It's warm temperature that matters, as mentioned above by Polka. So no reason to cut the spike unless the plant is sick, as Orchid Whisperer wrote.

[tucker85]

Phalaenopsis grow continuously throughout the year, they don't have a growth cycle and a bloom cycle like some other orchids have. As far as I know, cutting the old spike off or not cutting it off won't effect the plants growth very much.

[Ray]

Rex is right on. Increase the growing temperature, and the vegetative growth rate will increase.

[Nanotyrannus]

Thank you all for your replies. I've been observing a no-id Phal that I bought 3 months ago - its flowers are still going strong, and there has been significant root growth! Very surprising to me, as I have left it in the terribly compacted moss that came with it. I guess I'll be leaving the spikes alone, then!