Should I cut this spike?

[Sweet Pea]

Hi Everyone!
The sad time has come when the flower on my paphiopedilum is starting to wilt...I've enjoyed it for quite some time! My question is, what should I do with it? Should I cut the entire spike? and if so, where? or, should I Let the flower fall off and keep the spike? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks for all your help!

[quiltergal]

Hi Sweet Pea. I usually wait until the spike itself turns brown and dry. Then I cut it off just above the leaves. It won't bloom again like Phals do.

[Sweet Pea]

Thanks, Terri!

[Shirley]

Hi Sweet Pea, I've learned from sad experience that, especially if it's a first bloom, it is detrimental to the plant to leave the flower on too long. This seems to sap the energy from a young plant and it can take quite a time to come back, perhaps not blooming again for a couple of years. I would say to cut it off and if the flower is still nice, put it in a vase and enjoy it that
way.

[ronaldhanko]

Any cutting that is done on any orchid should be done with sterilized tools (dipped in bleach or heated in an open flame). Cutting leaves, spikes, whatever, while green with unsterilized tools can transmit viruses. Paphs are not very susceptible to virus, but they are not immune. For that reason I usually wait until flower stems and old leaves are completely dry and brown before removing them.

[Sweet Pea]

Thanks, everyone! In regards to cutting, quiltergal and ronald, do you recommend just removing the flower or the spike as well?

Thanks!

[quiltergal]

Sweet Pea, I've only been growing Paphs for a little over a year. Mine are still pretty small, but all have bloomed so far but one. I haven't rebloomed one since my initial first blooms so I can't confirm or deny Shirley's statement. I'm sure she has more slipper experience than I do. I guess I'll find out this winter. That's when my delenatii bloomed. It's new growth is doing well. So I'm hoping Shirley is wrong! LOL sorry Shirley.

[orchidexpress]

I just always cut doen the flower spike just ot let the plant rest. Plus it also looks better in the greenhouse as a manicured plant verses orchids with dead flower spikes coming out of them.
This is just me.

Happy Growing!

[ronaldhanko]

I'd trim them just to keep them neat, but it really doesn't matter.

[orchidexpress]

To me it does matter whith a phal as you may want the plant to rest so it can produce a huge infloresence