Royal Blue Hybrid Phal
 

I have a royal blue Phal. There are 2 flower spikes. Each 14 inches high. Then the spikes turns DOWNWARD for an additiomal 10 inches on which there are the gorgous blue flowers. I have enjoyed these flowers for 2 months and now they are starting to wilt and soon will fall off. WHERE do I cut them as they are so tall and long. I've read that you cut till the third node back from the last flower. Or cut them off at the bottom of the spike. One way they will rebloom and the second way they will have a rest and grow new leaves. They are already growing new leaves. What do I do? Jessica

are the flowers really big and bright royal blue?

personally I don't ever cut spikes because sometimes they bloom again from the ends. It sounds like these may be on their second blooming already if the spikes sort of change direction.

you are correct that cutting at the base will give the plant a rest to grow stronger leaves.

Cut just above the highest node on the spike that didn't have a flower. This will leave you with the maximum number of nodes that might branch and flower again. You might want to wait for a few weeks after the last flowers fade though. As fishmommy said, sometimes you do get more flowers at the end of the spike. As long as they are growing new leaves there is never any need to give a mature plant a 'rest'.

Just be aware that the hideous blue color is from an artificial dye that is injected in the spike. Eventually the dye will fade from the plant and you will have a natural but generic plain white Phal with no name.

If this is the same phal that I have seen, it is not a trure blue flower. It was developed over in Europe where they added a dye to the plants. Wheen this plant reblooms it will be a white flower.

Not all things are loved by everyone . Gin

A few months back saw these on our plant tables at THD, I was very surprised that a nursery would inject a dye to increase sales knowing full well they will never rebloom the likes of the purchasing day. They are extremely attractive don't' get me wrong but a dye, still shaking my head over this one. Humm Europe you say!

most phals never even last long enough to rebloom. Most treat them like a flower bouquet

No, I'm talking about receiving adequate enough care to survive to the next instance of flowering on a new spike. It seems most are thrown out as soon as they lose their blooms

Brotherly Monkey is right... the sellers of these blue orchids do not expect their buyers to keep them until the next flowering.

This is the same in most of the NoID phal market. And unfortunately in most cases they are right. My friends believe you can't keep and can't rebloom Phals. You buy them for the flowers then throw them away when they are done. That is the market the sellers are aiming at.

(I'm glad to say I've helped a couple of people at work to keep theirs, one of them has kept one three years now and it has rebloomed twice. He's thrilled because his wife was convinced he was killing it by following my advice :coverlaugh:)

Hideous Blue Orchid
 

dear paphmadman: thanks for you advise on where to cut my Phal. I will wait till the flowers fall off (right?) and then I will cut using a sterilized razor above the highest node below the first flower, If I do that though, it will leave me with a spike of atlest 16 inches. That's pretty tall. But if you say that new branches will come out from the other lower node. Great!. . Sorry you think the blue is hidious. I thought it was drop dead gorgous and had no idea it was artificial. Goes to show you how little I know. Thanks again. Jessica R

Blue Orchid
 

Dear Jrhennek: Thanks for your input. I will look foward ro a new white orchid. But I really did like the blue.JessicaR