"TOM KAN PA" wrote in message
...
My own preference is to cut the spike all the way down, and force the
plant
to put its energy into growing, in hopes of bigger, better, more blooms
the
following season.
____Reply Separator_____
OK, if I decide to go this route, how do I "force the plant to put its
energy
into growing?"

By not allowing it to put any energy into blooming! Given proper
conditions,
it will grow.

David