First spike is growing, when/how do I suppport it?
 

I'm so thrilled that my discounted walmart Phal does indeed have a flower spike on it (as verified last week by those on here). Well, I asked how fast they grow, and now can say mine is growing faster than I expected. It's probably grown about 3/4 - 1 inch this past week. It is now just over the edge of the pot. How do I get it to grow up? Or at very least keep it supported. My other one has a bamboo stake so I'm assuming that is what I should do, but when/how should I start?

Anyone know the best place to buy the little plastic thingies that hold it to the bamboo?

:waving Thanks

---------- Post added at 05:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:05 PM ----------

What are those little plastic thingies :rofl: called so I can look for them on E-bay?

Congrats on the spike. I got a little too excited when my phals spiked and ended up scratching them with the 'orchid clips' because the stem was still very tender.

What you can do is rotate the pot every few days to keep the spike growing more or less straight up and down. Then, when it is, say, a foot or so tall, you can gently insert a stake, twisting it gently as you push it down to minimize root damage, and clip it to the stake. If the stem is still tender, you can use something gentler like old shoestrings to tie the spike to the stake.

Good luck and feel free to post photos :)

Even a twist tie, like off of a bread wrapper can help. I've seen the little orchid clips for sale at repotme online, and ebay. They come in bags of hundreds, so I end up using any old tie or clip. Produce departments and bakeries usually have them as well.

I buy green twist ties at home improvement stores. They are long enough to cut into thirds, so you can buy a smaller pack if you want.

:waving Thanks for answers. My spike just seams to be growing almost strait out. Maybe it will turn upward. I'll do as suggested and rotate the pot every few days.

I don't stake my spikes.

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The little plastic clips can be found in the hair aisle with the hairbands, brushes, etc. :)

I had tons of these hair things. Gave them away many years ago. So these are the same as the ones used to support orchids. That will make it much cheaper if they are still at the Dollar Tree.

:waving Thanks

I shop at Dollar General for all my orchid accessories. LOL! These clips are the same thing as the clips for orchid spikes. I have used those plastic curlers with hollow cores to put inside pots, under orchids to allow for space inside the potting media for greater air circulation. From the wild bird seed garden area I have bought suet cages and used them to mount a couple of orchids (I got that idea from TommyMiami.) Dollar stores are a great source for these kinds of products and they are very inexpensive.

I let my phals develop their spikes without staking.
The only time I stake them is when a few flowers open and the weight of them seem too much on the spike to hold up.

If you are a windowsill grower like me, turning the pot every so often as recommended by someone above, helps the growing spike stay straight up.

Regarding the tie, my favorite is thread (yarn).
I buy one head ( what is the counting unit for this thing??) of small yarn for $1 at a dollar store. Very cheap and long lasting, and it comes in many different colors. :)

It is so soft that you don't have to worry about scratching the spikes or buds. Very flexible (more than any ties out there, dud, it is thread!) which makes it so easy to work with.

In case the spike doe bend somewhat and you want it as straight up as possible, do not apply to much force as doing so might just break the spike.
You want to inset a long skewer of any type you can find that is at lest one foot tall right along the spike. Closer the better.
Gently tie the spike near the tip ( I would say at least an inch or two below the growing tip, which is very tender) and bring it in closer to the stake, but be very careful and very very slow when doing this to prevent any damage. Do not attempt to pull the spike all the way to the stake, but just shoot for about 70% or so of what you think would be ideal distance. This is not necessary but safe and works for me.

Then you can pull the spike further in after about one week when the spike has grown taller and the part you tied has become a bit stronger and harder.

Try one more as the spike grows taller and still crook.