cutting the stem after blooms finished
 

After the blooms are done, when and where do I cut the stem? Do I wait till it's completely brown or cut it while still part green?

Thanks :waving

where to cut depends on the type of orchid you have! the main type that varies is with the phaleonopsis. some people, like myself, cut the stem down to about an inch or two off the plant. others like to leave about half the stem in hopes that it will make an offset stem which might make more buds. another type of orchid, the paphs, mostly have a single bud and bloom, so when that is finished, you cut down close to the plant...UNLESS...it is a multi floral type which has more than one bud and can continue to flower for some months....cattleya types grow the psuedobulb off a rhizome, and make a leaf at the end of the psuedobulb out of which forms a bud sheath....those, you cut at the base of the sheath near the leaf....oncidium types make a long tall spike with numerous flowers and branches sometimes...these are gone and dead when the last flower fades, and can be cut near the base of the plant...hope this helps!

So, in the case of Phals, is it best then to cut the stem after the flowers fall? I have two new rescue Phals that each have two stems, that's new and exciting to me. As a newbie I feel hesitant to just cut them both when the flowers die. (Call me crazy!)

;-)
Lotis

I always leave my Phal ones on the plant (until they shrivel and die) as I have noticed that if they have a tendency to re-flower on a spike the next blooming season (if the spike is still living). If the spike is dieing/becoming brown then I will trim to the point right above the transition from dead to healthy.

Mine is a Phal. Two leaves are being held upright by the stem which is turning brown. It's brown to about 3inches above the plant at this point.

Thanks :waving

As soon as the last flower wilts and fall, I cut the spike to about an inch from the bottom. It signals the plant to be on growth mode to produce new leaves and roots. It will give the plant a chance to gather enough energy to produce maybe two spikes that will give you flowers that are bigger, flatter and with vivid colors.
Holding on to the green spike will only produce smaller flowers and it doesn't help the plant to become a big specimen.

Bud is correct. The second flowering on the same stem usually produces smaller less numerous flowers. letting the plant recouperate will give it time and energy to produce much better flowers and even two spikes.

I always leave spikes on the plant as long as they're still green. Some phals will rebloom on those spikes next year along with new flower spikes. They don't all do that but I leave the spikes in place until I find out if they do or not. Of course if the plant is in a display area and you just want to make it look a little nicer, then you can cut the spike off at about an inch from the plant.