Old stems
 

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice about a "moth" orchid I
bought last year. It has three long stems, one of which grew in the not
too recent past and is now covered with beautiful blooms, the other two of
which came with the orchid when I purchased it and have no blooms. Given
that I'm an orchid neophyte I'm wondering what I should do with these two
long but seemingly "pooped out" stems. Should I cut them back, should I
leave them just as they are, or should I do something else with them?

-Scott

Old stems
 

Scott,

Cut 'em off, with a sterile blade. Clearly, they are done blooming. When a
Phal spike loses its flowers there are 3 things you can do initially. You
can leave it there, cut it off, or cut down at the third or fourth node and
try to force a new off shoot. At this point, though, since the plant has
put out a new spike, it's a bit late in the game for that. Just as well; I
don't often try to force things. Lots of stress for the plant, and it needs
rest now and then.

Hope this helps.

Diana

Old stems
 

Scott,

Cut 'em off, with a sterile blade. Clearly, they are done blooming. When a
Phal spike loses its flowers there are 3 things you can do initially. You
can leave it there, cut it off, or cut down at the third or fourth node and
try to force a new off shoot. At this point, though, since the plant has
put out a new spike, it's a bit late in the game for that. Just as well; I
don't often try to force things. Lots of stress for the plant, and it needs
rest now and then.

Hope this helps.

Diana

Old stems
 

Scott,

Cut 'em off, with a sterile blade. Clearly, they are done blooming. When a
Phal spike loses its flowers there are 3 things you can do initially. You
can leave it there, cut it off, or cut down at the third or fourth node and
try to force a new off shoot. At this point, though, since the plant has
put out a new spike, it's a bit late in the game for that. Just as well; I
don't often try to force things. Lots of stress for the plant, and it needs
rest now and then.

Hope this helps.

Diana

Old stems
 

Scott,

[Brief aside: Phal is short for Phalaenopsis and that's the Latin name for
moth orchid. Spike or inflorescence are the words usually used to refer to
what you call stem. I am just pointing this out, since once you know this
terminology it will be easier for you to search for more information.]

Are these two old spikes still green or are they now yellow/brown?

If these spikes are still green, and if this is a "novelty" type Phal
(yellow or red bloom color, waxy/glossy texture), then leave the dormant
spikes alone, since they may still rebloom -- if the plant seems healthy
enough to support them.

If the old spikes are yellow or brown then cut them off, as close to the
bottom as possible without damaging the plant.

Best,
Joanna



"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Scott,

Cut 'em off, with a sterile blade. Clearly, they are done blooming. When
a
Phal spike loses its flowers there are 3 things you can do initially. You
can leave it there, cut it off, or cut down at the third or fourth node
and
try to force a new off shoot. At this point, though, since the plant has
put out a new spike, it's a bit late in the game for that. Just as well;
I
don't often try to force things. Lots of stress for the plant, and it
needs
rest now and then.

Hope this helps.

Diana

Old stems
 

Scott,

If the spikes are still green and if the 1/3 of the spike that you left
includes any nodes (divisions in the stem), then there is a chance that they
might still produce a branch from one of these nodes, and bloom off of that
branch in the future. Although since your Phal is pink and non-glossy, it is
less likely to reuse the old spikes than a novelty Phal.

My understanding is that most experienced growers tend to prefer to cut old
spikes at the bottom to give the plant a chance to rest, so that next year
the blooms will be more spectacular and to not take a risk of weakening the
plant's health -- give it a chance to concentrate on growing leaves and
roots instead of blooming again. Also the secondary blooms are considered
lower quality by experts, and thus for example I have heard that an orchid
plant is not eligible for awards based on secondary blooms of a spike that
has bloomed before.

However, personally I cannot tell the difference in quality of the blooms on
my Phal that is blooming for the second time on an old spike. And after only
three years of growing Phals I am still novice enough to prefer to try to
get my Phals to rebloom on the same spike because I am impatient and I know
that if the plant decides to rebloom on the same spike then I may get blooms
faster than if I wait for a new spike.

If the plant is healthy I don't think that it will harm it if you leave the
spikes on.

Best,
Joanna

"Scott Inglett" wrote in message
...
Thanks Joanna and Diana,

The spikes are still green. I've already cut them however, leaving
approximately 1/3 of the spikes intact. The blooms are pink and not
glossy
in texture. Is there any chance that these spikes may yet bloom in the
future? Overall it seems to be a beautiful healthy plant.

-Scott

"J Fortuna" wrote in message
...
Scott,

[Brief aside: Phal is short for Phalaenopsis and that's the Latin name
for
moth orchid. Spike or inflorescence are the words usually used to refer
to
what you call stem. I am just pointing this out, since once you know
this
terminology it will be easier for you to search for more information.]

Are these two old spikes still green or are they now yellow/brown?

If these spikes are still green, and if this is a "novelty" type Phal
(yellow or red bloom color, waxy/glossy texture), then leave the dormant
spikes alone, since they may still rebloom -- if the plant seems healthy
enough to support them.

If the old spikes are yellow or brown then cut them off, as close to the
bottom as possible without damaging the plant.

Best,
Joanna



"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Scott,

Cut 'em off, with a sterile blade. Clearly, they are done blooming.
When
a
Phal spike loses its flowers there are 3 things you can do initially.
You
can leave it there, cut it off, or cut down at the third or fourth
node
and
try to force a new off shoot. At this point, though, since the plant
has
put out a new spike, it's a bit late in the game for that. Just as
well;
I
don't often try to force things. Lots of stress for the plant, and it
needs
rest now and then.

Hope this helps.

Diana

Old stems
 

Thanks Joanna and Diana,

The spikes are still green. I've already cut them however, leaving
approximately 1/3 of the spikes intact. The blooms are pink and not glossy
in texture. Is there any chance that these spikes may yet bloom in the
future? Overall it seems to be a beautiful healthy plant.

-Scott

"J Fortuna" wrote in message
...
Scott,

[Brief aside: Phal is short for Phalaenopsis and that's the Latin name for
moth orchid. Spike or inflorescence are the words usually used to refer to
what you call stem. I am just pointing this out, since once you know this
terminology it will be easier for you to search for more information.]

Are these two old spikes still green or are they now yellow/brown?

If these spikes are still green, and if this is a "novelty" type Phal
(yellow or red bloom color, waxy/glossy texture), then leave the dormant
spikes alone, since they may still rebloom -- if the plant seems healthy
enough to support them.

If the old spikes are yellow or brown then cut them off, as close to the
bottom as possible without damaging the plant.

Best,
Joanna



"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Scott,

Cut 'em off, with a sterile blade. Clearly, they are done blooming.
When
a
Phal spike loses its flowers there are 3 things you can do initially.
You
can leave it there, cut it off, or cut down at the third or fourth node
and
try to force a new off shoot. At this point, though, since the plant
has
put out a new spike, it's a bit late in the game for that. Just as
well;
I
don't often try to force things. Lots of stress for the plant, and it
needs
rest now and then.

Hope this helps.

Diana

Old stems
 

Thanks Joanna and Diana,

The spikes are still green. I've already cut them however, leaving
approximately 1/3 of the spikes intact. The blooms are pink and not glossy
in texture. Is there any chance that these spikes may yet bloom in the
future? Overall it seems to be a beautiful healthy plant.

-Scott

"J Fortuna" wrote in message
...
Scott,

[Brief aside: Phal is short for Phalaenopsis and that's the Latin name for
moth orchid. Spike or inflorescence are the words usually used to refer to
what you call stem. I am just pointing this out, since once you know this
terminology it will be easier for you to search for more information.]

Are these two old spikes still green or are they now yellow/brown?

If these spikes are still green, and if this is a "novelty" type Phal
(yellow or red bloom color, waxy/glossy texture), then leave the dormant
spikes alone, since they may still rebloom -- if the plant seems healthy
enough to support them.

If the old spikes are yellow or brown then cut them off, as close to the
bottom as possible without damaging the plant.

Best,
Joanna



"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Scott,

Cut 'em off, with a sterile blade. Clearly, they are done blooming.
When
a
Phal spike loses its flowers there are 3 things you can do initially.
You
can leave it there, cut it off, or cut down at the third or fourth node
and
try to force a new off shoot. At this point, though, since the plant
has
put out a new spike, it's a bit late in the game for that. Just as
well;
I
don't often try to force things. Lots of stress for the plant, and it
needs
rest now and then.

Hope this helps.

Diana