not stake Phal spike?

[tucker85]

I like to grow phals without staking them but if they insist on growing straight up the weight of the flowers sometimes breaks the stem. So if they grow upwards I usually stake them to prevent breaking. Otherwise I like to let them hang down like they do in nature. Good luck.

[VickiC]

Thank you for your help. I had decided not to stake any more spikes other than the one I have pictured, but now I think maybe I should take a second look to be sure. By the way, your phals are very pretty!
Thanks again,
Vicki

Originally Posted by tucker85

I like to grow phals without staking them but if they insist on growing straight up the weight of the flowers sometimes breaks the stem. So if they grow upwards I usually stake them to prevent breaking. Otherwise I like to let them hang down like they do in nature. Good luck.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by tucker85

How old is your Purple Martin? I just got mine in September and its growing like a weed-- in spike!

[tucker85]

The picture was taken a few months after I received the orchid from Orchids.com. It's about two years old now and has new buds that I expect will open any day. I'm a little suprised because it bloomed in the Spring last year and now it's spiking in the Fall. By the way it's a sequential bloomer and stays in bloom for several months.