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07-11-2011, 05:40 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Roscoe, Illinois
Posts: 51
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Should I cut Phal bastianii spike?
Hello,
I have a Phal bastianii. I bought it flowering and it looked like the attached photo.
Since the photo the flowers have dropped, but the spike is still green.
I wanted to ask for opinions, on if I should trim the spike off to encourage plant growth, or could it grow a new flower?
Thanks,
Bob
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Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
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07-11-2011, 05:58 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Zone: 2b
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Age: 29
Posts: 2,252
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Phalaenopsis bastianii is a member of the subgenus Polychilos within the genus Phalaenopsis. Species of this subgenus have 'evergreen' spikes, meaning they will rebloom off of old spikes, and when mature could have multiple spikes, new and old, blooming all at the same time, which makes a spectacular display. For your question, yes, keeping the spike on does take energy from the plant, but it is not anything it cannot take, otherwise the inflorescence would wither. It is true, however, that cutting the spike will divert that small amount of energy into growing new leaves and roots. So it all boils down to either keeping this spike, and get more blooms and have the plant grow at a normal pace, or cut the spike and have the plant grow a little more vigorously. Unless the plants is stressed due to a lack of roots, or the plant is very small , of which it looks like neither, I would keep the spike on. But of course, it is up to you.
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Post Thanks / Like - 3 Likes
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07-11-2011, 07:13 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Roscoe, Illinois
Posts: 51
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Cody,
That's great info. Thanks much.
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07-11-2011, 07:32 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Zone: 2b
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Age: 29
Posts: 2,252
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Your welcome!
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07-11-2011, 07:37 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Zone: 7b
Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Age: 65
Posts: 1,679
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Don't cut....wait!  |
07-12-2011, 12:05 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: edmonton, alberta
Posts: 874
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Your plant looks healthy, with nice new root tips. Now would ne the time to repot. Keep the spike.
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07-12-2011, 12:16 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Zone: 6a
Location: Pennsylvania
Age: 29
Posts: 6,061
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i would leave the spike on, if the plant cant handle it, the plant will do something about it.
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07-12-2011, 12:31 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,467
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I would normally agree with those who said to leave the spike on. Looking at the plant though, I can see that it is a fairly young plant with only three leaves. If it were me I would forsake the spike in order to get some more bulk on the plant and look forward to a more dramatic blooming next bloom cycle.
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07-12-2011, 10:14 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Roscoe, Illinois
Posts: 51
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Thank you all, for the input. It is a small plant, but I think for now I will repot and leave the spike. Hopefully, I will post a photo when it blooms next.
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07-16-2011, 12:08 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Zone: 8a
Location: West Midlands, UK
Age: 49
Posts: 25,462
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Really pretty. Yeah on this sort of Phal I would leave the spike on.
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