Dear All,

My first orchid, a Phalaenopsis, has finished its blooming, a pair at
a time for the past 5 months. Now a new leaf has started growing at
the center. It grows quite fast. Just a few weeks, it is almost the
half of the mature leaf size. I saw two new green roots forming at the
bottom as well.

The flower spike is Y shaped with both arms pointing toward one side.
The top arm starts to dry up and turn to a brownish wrinkly stick
while the other arm appears slower in this drying process. Should I
cut the spike all the way to the end? Or should I trim it at the node?
Above or below the node? If above the node, which arm to cut?

I like this orchid a lot and would like to take good care of it and
see more flowering. What operation should I do to better suit its
needs?

Thanks a lot,
Tiff

Personally, I would wait to see if it starts yellowing below the "Y". If so, cut it off at the
base.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"Frank" wrote in message
om...
Dear All,

My first orchid, a Phalaenopsis, has finished its blooming, a pair at
a time for the past 5 months. Now a new leaf has started growing at
the center. It grows quite fast. Just a few weeks, it is almost the
half of the mature leaf size. I saw two new green roots forming at the
bottom as well.

The flower spike is Y shaped with both arms pointing toward one side.
The top arm starts to dry up and turn to a brownish wrinkly stick
while the other arm appears slower in this drying process. Should I
cut the spike all the way to the end? Or should I trim it at the node?
Above or below the node? If above the node, which arm to cut?

I like this orchid a lot and would like to take good care of it and
see more flowering. What operation should I do to better suit its
needs?

Thanks a lot,
Tiff

I would cut it off at the third node and try to grow some more phals from
the nodes above the third one. The remaining spike could bloom again, die,
or grow a keki.
If it continues to die cut it the rest of the way off. Then the plant rests
while preparing to grow a new spike and flower. As always the condition of
the plant and where it is at will determine what happens. You can force it
by creating the proper conditions.

Roger
"Frank" wrote in message
om...
Dear All,

My first orchid, a Phalaenopsis, has finished its blooming, a pair at
a time for the past 5 months. Now a new leaf has started growing at
the center. It grows quite fast. Just a few weeks, it is almost the
half of the mature leaf size. I saw two new green roots forming at the
bottom as well.

The flower spike is Y shaped with both arms pointing toward one side.
The top arm starts to dry up and turn to a brownish wrinkly stick
while the other arm appears slower in this drying process. Should I
cut the spike all the way to the end? Or should I trim it at the node?
Above or below the node? If above the node, which arm to cut?

I like this orchid a lot and would like to take good care of it and
see more flowering. What operation should I do to better suit its
needs?

Thanks a lot,
Tiff

Personally, I would wait to see if it starts yellowing below the "Y". If so, cut it off at the
base.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"Frank" wrote in message
om...
Dear All,

My first orchid, a Phalaenopsis, has finished its blooming, a pair at
a time for the past 5 months. Now a new leaf has started growing at
the center. It grows quite fast. Just a few weeks, it is almost the
half of the mature leaf size. I saw two new green roots forming at the
bottom as well.

The flower spike is Y shaped with both arms pointing toward one side.
The top arm starts to dry up and turn to a brownish wrinkly stick
while the other arm appears slower in this drying process. Should I
cut the spike all the way to the end? Or should I trim it at the node?
Above or below the node? If above the node, which arm to cut?

I like this orchid a lot and would like to take good care of it and
see more flowering. What operation should I do to better suit its
needs?

Thanks a lot,
Tiff