Phalaenopsis spike has turned purple

[Heyfee4]

Hello ~

I am very, very, new to growing orchids. My Phalaenopsis just finished blooming about one week ago. It was beautiful. About 11 blooms on a long spike, and the last bloom just fell off. After the bloom fell, the stem started to turn purple. I did a quick search and it said it might be getting too much light. I moved the plant but it still a different color.

Is there something I should be doing for the orchid? This plant bloomed beautifully all winter, and provided me joy while I grieved my precious dog. I want to do everything I can to give back.

I will attach some pictures below.

Thank you.
Kathleen

[Keysguy]

Looks to me as though it is spent and turning brown.
Although some spikes can do a second or even third smaller bloom cycles off the original spike, this does not look like yours is going to.
Once the spike is brown all the way to the stem of the plant, cut it off. It will send up new spikes in late fall and bloom again.
BTW----when a Phal. does a multiple bloom cycle on a spike, it often either totally impedes a bloom the following year cycle or it has one that is significantly reduced in flower count and/or length of bloom time. The reason for this is that blooming takes a tremendous amount of energy for the plant and without the non-blooming "rest" period, it can't regenerate the nutrients necessary to produce an abundant bloom.
That 1 leaf I can see in that third picture leads me to believe you have a nice healthy plant there.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Heyfee4

Is there something I should be doing for the orchid?

As the spike is on the way to drying up, which is ok, you can just use a clean sharp cutting tool to snip off the spike at the base.

Then keep the orchid in a growing area having adequate air-movement, and orchid-safe temperature range, and medium light conditions (no direct sunlight).

These following tips can be beneficial :

Click Here and Click Here

[Heyfee4]

Thank you so much. Yes there is a brand new leaf and it is beautiful. If I may ask, where would be the best place to cut? Thank you for this wealth of information !
I want to do what is best for her.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Heyfee4

If I may ask, where would be the best place to cut?

For a dying flower spike, or dead one ---- just cut somewhere close to the base of the spike - without accidentally cutting the orchid --- just cut the spike only.

If the spike were still green and alive ------ then the usual region to cut is to ---- start from the spike base, and count two segments ..... and cut the spike at some point a little longer than two segments in length - such that in the future, with a bit of luck, the spike may develop an off-growth spike ----- capable of more flowering.