Stake Sharry Baby spikes?

[Suzanne17]

I just got a Sharry Baby that has four giant spikes. They are standing pretty straight and are not in bud yet...I was wondering if people usually stake the spikes and if so- do you use wire or hardwood/bamboo? Thanks !

[ilikeorchids]

Actually, it depends if you want the spike to droop down and look natural (depending on you growing space) but from what I always see, vendors always stake them. Some use bamboo and wire, the stake as 3/4 the same as the length of the spike posting a picture would be great.


Hope that helps.

[dendro king]

If they are already straight why would u bother staking them, however if they are watered with over head sprinklers it is necessary or the spikes fall over. But otherwise I'd just leave it. My two cents.

[Suzanne17]

Here is a picture - on the left.

[dendro king]

You could rotate the plant around so the spikes bend back to the light again

[Suzanne17]

I definitely prefer the more natural look- I think I'll let them go but I'm going to repot and maybe put some stones in the base. It's going to go into a west facing window today in my bedroom and I don't want it falling over.

[cbuchman]

I don't' stake my Sharry Baby. I find the slight arch in the inflorescence to be attractive and they are strong enough to hold the flowers.

I do generally stake when 1) I am transporting a plant - so that the spikes doesn't get broken;2) the flower is heavy and might break off from its weight alone - Often the case with big Catts; or 3) I want to present the flowers in a certain way - Typically on Phals.

So as you can see it is up to you! Whatever you decide, enjoy the flowers and the wonderful fragrance of your Sharry Baby!

[silken]

I prefer the natural gentle arch also. I wouldn't be changing the plant's orientation once buds form or the flowers will be askew in different directions on the spike. If I do need to stake to keep a spike from breaking under bloom weight, I use a wire stake that can be bent to the same natural arch and do it before the flowers are opened.

[Suzanne17]

I like that idea, silken. I'll have to keep my eyes out for long wire stakes. But for now I think they are fine. Might be different when they bloom.

[RandomGemini]

Generally, I don't have to stake it, but... when I brought my pink Sharry Baby home, it had a four foot long spike. It had to be staked with the tallest stake I could find, just to keep that spike from sitting in the floor where my dogs could wag and knock all the blooms off of it.