I'm no expert on this, but I know someone who is, and I've taken his
advice. So, I take mercy on the plant and cut off the spike so the
plant and its roots can go through a growth cycle and recoup energy.
Evidently, putting forth flowers is somewhat akin to being pregnant:
Nobody wants to be that way all the time.


In article , henry wolf
wrote:

I tried both ways, do YOU cut a spent spike as soon as the last bloom
drops, or do you wait until the spike is all brown and dried-out.