Should I cut this spike? (pic)

[AnitaPita]

Hi,

So I got this phal over a year ago. It's done very well..The blooms fell off after I had it for 3 months so I cut the spike below the last node and put cinnamon on it. The spike always stayed green. It never grew again but the whole stalk stayed green until a week ago.

The roots were growing out of control so I repotted it this April and it was fine, didn't seem traumatized or anything. I moved out of state end of May and unfortunately it sustained some damage when it was packed in the car. (see pics below)

It seems to be recovering, and it now has a new leaf sprouting!!! But the spike is brown and dead about 1/3 of the way down. Should I cut it? If so, where should I cut?
Do you think it's getting a new leaf because it's getting more light? Or is it in response to the 2 biggest leaves being damaged?

Any input would be appreciated...thank you!!

[mattryan]

Hi my 2 cents I would cut the spike all the way down at the base of your phal. Some phals will re-bloom off of an existing spike, but not all of them. Right now most phals should be putting out new leaves and roots as it being spring-summer growth cycle. I think that the new leaf growing is not because of the damage tothe other leaves just what it should be doing right now. Your phal looks nice and healthy. Goodluck

[RosieC]

I would agree, cut it right down as close to the plant as you can. It's possible it could still do something, but if you cut it right back it will grow a new spike when it's ready to flower again and they can often have more flowers on a new spike than on the remains of an old one.

I tend to leave them a couple of months and if they've done nothing I cut them back. I have one which starts growing new buds on the end of the spike just as the last flowers start to fade. That one I just let keep going, but it only tends to have one or two at a time, rather than the 8 it had initially on the spike.