Cutting vs not cutting flower spikes
 

There are a few flower spikes which i didnt cut all the way down this summer. I just cut them to get them out of the way and then never got around to cutting them down to the base.

Now a few of them are spiking off the old spikes again. But the same plants also have new spikes growing from the base. Does that mean they are flowering because I left the spikes, or does it mean they would have flowered anyway?

They would have made a new spike from the base of the plant if you cut the spikes completely. I presume that you have a Phal. they do usually produce smaller spikes from a node which only contains 2-5 smaller flowers.

so instead of one from the old spike, and one from the base, it would have been two from the base? Even though it has only been two or three months since they finished flowering?

Not necessarily. It really depends on the type, health, culture and age of the Phal whether it produces one or more spikes. Some cut the old spikes to give the plant more energy to concentrate on the new spike but if you give your orchids really good culture, they will be healthy enough to support more flowers.

they do make more flowers from old stems if the plant is healthy. But they need a drop in temperature to promote another spike from the base.

It all depends on the hybrid you have I think. My old trusty white Phal is branching off from where I cut the spike. But it is also growing a whole new spike too. This plant did get a healthy drop in Temp Because my home Temp drops at night by 5-10 degrees. So I do think temp plays a part is blooming. Because all my other old Phals are in spike. All are kept with this one.

I have had this plant for 4 almost 5 years now. It's not a baby. I have never just let my plant grow from an uncut spike. I don't feel it will produce as many nice flowers if left uncut. So I cut mine all the way or about half way like in the photo.

That is about where mine are at with their spikes :-)

Ive got six that are in spike (3 with old spikes), 3 that arent in spike (2 of which are recovering well from store neglect), and one that is just finishing up flowering. :-) So it is going quite well, considering I bought my first orchid just 7 months ago.

All of them finished with whatever flowers they had when they bought them, so all these spikes are homegrown!

Who knew they could be so easy :-D

Yup with just a little love and care a Phal will bloom for you like clock work. Sounds like you got it under control.

I just picked up a rescue Phal from PetCo of all places for $2.00. I have no clue what the flowers will be but the Leaves are cute and round. The roots were in pretty good shape from being neglected for months.

Ive got one mini that is in bud right now, and it will be a surprise :-D Ive got a guess of what it could be, but I wont know for sure until the flowers open. I have been hovering around it for the past week. I just know one of them will open soon ^_^

Im a sucker for the minis. Dont tell the others, but my minis get extra love and care :biggrin:

I've got a NoID rescue Phal I put outside for the summer. In August it started a new branch on an old spike as well as a new spike. It had 4 buds but I broke one off on accident, the first of which bloomed in October not long after I brought it inside. By November both spikes have all three blooms open, new spike also only has three and all their flowers are the same size.

I have another rescue that suffered (instead of actually being rescued by me!) outside from sunburn and crownrot. I kept the plant and it grew a branch off the old spike which now has about 4 buds.

I will say too that after bringing them inside my Phals and their spikes slowed their growth and don't have as many buds. I'm pretty sure this is due to lower humidity and air circulation inside.