Pollination - subsequent effects

[orchidsarefun]

I have a couple of questions. I pollinated 5 flowers on a zygopetalum. It was a first time thing. Well I now have 5 seed pods developing ! I am in a quandary - do I remove 3 or 4 ? The plant itself doesn't seem to be impacted - there are 2 new growths and a lot of root development. I read somewhere that a seed pod could terminate the entire plant eventually. Is this true ?
BTW - I pollinated these flowers after ALL were open - so after a few weeks.
On to phals
If one of the first flowers are pollinated, does this stop others from opening on the same stem ?
what about flowers on another stem, same plant ?
I want to experiment with a couple of crosses. Whats the maximum amount of seed pods that have been grown on to maturity, per stem, per plant ?
is it better to pollinate the last flowers opening , or the first ?
Thanks in advance for any input/advice.