Best time to cut the spike? - Orchid Board

en3rmax · #1 07-09-2009, 02:17 PM

Hi there, from my attached pics when would you say is the best time to cut my phal spike? it's already gone quite dry at the top

thank you in advance

jkhom · #2 07-09-2009, 02:46 PM

I personally would not cut the spike until entriely dried and brown its entire length.
Almost a year and a half ago we bought a noid phal that was well in bloom. When the top flowers died and the stem started to dry I noticed growth at a lower node. The growth turned out to be a new spike! That spike continued to grow and then flowered. This phal has been doing the same thing all this time so its been in bloom for at least 13 months!

RosieC · #3 07-09-2009, 02:50 PM

I would be inclined to cut it off, but it's one of those things which is a matter of taste.

If you want to leave the lower part, you might as well still snip it off where it is already dry. That part will not do anything now, but the still green bit may do so if you want to leave that it may be worth it.

lindaspiderw · #4 07-09-2009, 03:57 PM

this is my first orchid it has stoped bloomming the spike has ,looks like a pod is that a seed , should i take it off ?

Ray · #5 07-10-2009, 09:39 AM

Spike Cutting

en3rmax · #6 07-20-2009, 09:16 PM

Hi again,

I cut the dead bit off my phal a few weeks ago just above the node but the rest of the spike has stayed green as in my attached pic, would it be best to cut the rest of the spike off? as i have a new leaf starting to come through.

thanku once again for the great advice it is much appreciated.

RosieC · #7 07-21-2009, 04:47 AM

It's really one of those things which is up to you (see the link Ray gave above which has very good advice).

Personally I would cut it off completely, but that's just my personal choice.

en3rmax · #8 07-21-2009, 08:18 PM

Hi RosieC,

I've took your advice and cut my phal spike off close to the base with a clean pair of scissors, i read a lot of posts saying about pretecting the cut end with cinnamon or wax should i do this? i dont have any cinnamon to hand, i'd have to get some.

My new little leaf is starting to poke through now and i'm chuffed about that :-D

thanks again

RosieC · #9 07-22-2009, 08:13 AM

The first few times my phals flowered I cut them off and didn't bother with anything to protect the end of the spike.

I sometimes use cinnamon now but not always. I've read somewhere that with the spike it's not so important as with cuts on the leaves or body of the plant.

BikerDoc5968 · #10 07-22-2009, 09:19 AM

Flower spikes are "one-way roads". That is to say there is no need to do anything to the cut end; it will sooner or later dry, turn brown and get "stick-like". Disease will not be conducted back to the plant. The link provided by Ray is very good. For me, whatever floats your boat works. I cut all my spikes when the last flowers have started wilting. This is usually, except for summer bloomers, sometime in April when the plant wants to begin its vegetive leaf growing phase. So for me it seems only logical to allow all of its energy to go for that purpose and not allow it to try to flower. I personally believe this allows the plant to have larger more numerous flowers in the fall/winter. I do realize many other factors play into flower quality and quantity. Just some thoughts....