When to stake flower stalk?
 

Last December I bought my first phal - it was one of those Blue Mystique dye jobs. We had no idea about orchids at that time and got conned on that purchase. I repotted the plant in February and it has been growing like crazy, putting out a ton of roots and three new big leaves. Much to my amazement and joy, what I thought was going to be another root has turned out to be a flower spike. The spike is now about 4 inches. My question: a what point do I need to stake the spike? Is my goal with staking to try and encourage the stalk to grow vertical? Or is to provide support and let it grow whichever way it wants?

Well I tend not to stake them, I like to let them hang naturally. Most I find don't need it.

So usually if you want to stake them, it's to make them grow vertical, if they grow naturally most will hang over the side of the pot.

I try and place a spike early about where it looks like the spike is going, but compromised to not go through a leaf. I would only grip the spike to the stake loosely if it's done early, as the spike doesn't just grow from the top, but slightly moves from the bottom. A loop of thread/string is good but make sure it's soft enough. Tie it loosely and as the spike grows you might be able to tighten slightly to draw it to the stake, but don't tie it tight so the spike can slide through it. You may want to tie in multiple places as it get's bigger.

Not a good pic, but just wanted to show you one unstaked. This is on my mantle piece just now.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/9...66e17207_n.jpg

Like everything else in orchid care, it depends. Your plant will probably end up being a big white phal. One I have in bloom right now has a stalk that's about 36". I put a 30" stake in the pot and then like Rosie said loosely tie it as it's growing. When it gets to 20-24" I let it cascade down. I like the look of the alternating blooms.
Once the buds start forming I try to keep the plant in the same orientation to the light so the blooms are all facing the same way.
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/6175/21hj.jpg


Bill

On the assumption that you DO want to stake the plants, one professional grower I met had the great advice that the very moment you see a spike emerging, stick a stake in the pot. If nothing else, it reminds you to check it and start staking when the spike allows it.

I put a stake in the pot as soon I see a spike forming to provide some protection against my clumsiness (phal or other). Because I like the arching of the phal inflorescence, I use a short stake when the spike is young and pliable and attach it loosely. Then keep the plant with the same orientation to the light source for a great display. The flowers will "tile" and make a waterfall effect that is lovely, in my opinion.

Looking gorgeous Bill. I never seem to get such evenly positioned blooms even when I stake. I probably am not strict enough about not changing the direction. Often as the first flowers open I move it to my mantle so the rest open in a different place to the first, probably confuses it :coverlaugh:

Thanks to everyone for their advice, it is a big help. I think I might be going with Rosies way, I like the look of the flowers hanging down like that. Once it is in bloom, I was planning on putting it on our mantel for display and I think it would look very good hanging like that. This is also my first ever phal spike, so I kindof want to see what it does on it's own without my interference. And Bill and Carrie, thanks for the tip about keeping the plant oriented in the same direction towards the light, I had no idea about that. The plant in that pic is just beautiful, I would be happy to get just half of those flowers lol. And Ray, as I usually see on these boards, has some good practical advice.

And yes, I'm sure these will rebloom white. After we bought the plant, we noticed a little tag that said the blooms would rebloom white. Searched the web and realized that we had been tricked. But the one good thing: what I thought was a NOID turned out be a hybrid called Pure Silk - the inner plastic pot had the hybrid name and date of potting. It is a really nice, vigourous plant and I'm glad we bought it.

I bought a B Little Stars as a Lowes bag baby back in March or April and that plant put out a single flower for me last month. It was just one flower, but I could not stop smiling for a week. It just threw out another flower from a node behind the spot where the first one came out, which was a very pleasant surprise. Very nice fragrance too. Getting one flower , even one at a time, has been awesome, I will probably be insufferably arrogant and proud when the phal is laden with blooms. I can't believe how much joy taking care of these plants can bring.

^^Heheheh, we've got another one! :rofl:

.....yep, you're addicted... Welcome to the club! :biggrin: