TO CUT OR NOT TO CUT?

[xxkarliexx]

when all the blooms fall off the stem, do you cut it? if so, how far down and when should you cut it?

[Bud]

just leave an inch and make a cinnamon paste with a bit of water and cinnamon powder then dab the open wound to heal it.
some people leave the spike alone if it is still green and wait for the next batch of blooms to come out of it....
but the next batch of blooms are not as big and flat as the first batch....
cutting the spike will give the message to the plant to grow more leaves and roots to gain energy for the next spike of blooms....and the next cycle of blooms are ususally bigger and with vivid colors

[RosieC]

I usually cut like Bud suggests. If it's a Phal and the spike is green then it can be left but you tend to get smaller or less blooms than if you cut. Other Genus of orchids tend not to rebloom on old spikes anyway so always cut those.

[xxkarliexx]

thanks for the tips!

[Oscarman]

I think you need to consider the species in the ancestry of the plant also. Several phalaenopsis species will continue to rebloom on old flower spikes, so cutting them off does not make sense. Phal. amboinensis, cornu-cervi, belina, violacea etc.

That being said I prefer to let spike die down naturally and then cut off close to the base of the plant. Usually I only cut off green spikes when I want the plant to focus on vegetative growth and rooting or I feel the plant just needs a rest from non-stop blooming.

[RosieC]

Good point Dave. My NOID hybrids and the standard looking hybrids I generally cut but my belinna I only cut when the spike browns.