How do I trim this Phalaenopsis? - Orchid Board

akhenenra · #1 07-01-2022, 02:34 PM

I've never had a phal bloom like this so was looking for some advice. There is one forking spike, and a couple nodes below the fork it's grown a leaf (off the spike). There's also a small leaf growing from a node above.

Now that it's almost done blooming, how should I trim it? Are those leaves keikis (they don't really seem like it?)?

Ordinarily I would trim the spike completely off since I care more about the orchid regaining strength than blooming again soon, but I'm not sure what to do here. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

Dimples · #2 07-01-2022, 05:26 PM

The little leaf higher up where the spike branches looks like a large bract, the protective cover on every node. The larger one lower on the spike could probably go either way, it’s a VERY large bract if it’s not a keiki. I wouldn’t cut the spike unless it dries down on its own. If the plant isn’t healthy enough to flower a second time off the old spike, it won’t flower. Leave it be and see what happens.

Mountaineer370 · #3 07-01-2022, 08:07 PM

I agree with Dimples. I wouldn't cut anything on that one that hasn't turned brown. Let the plant tell you what it wants to do. I sometimes see tiny leaves growing from bracts like the one on yours, but that one that is down lower is the largest leaf I have seen that wasn't a keiki. Maybe it will end up sprouting roots.

Louis_W · #4 07-01-2022, 11:49 PM

It looks to me like your plant has a terminal inflorescence. This is means the plant no longer had a central point of growth and it will need to branch off the side. This will take some time. I would cut the spike above the small leaf and wait. May take months for the plant to start growing again but if you keep it healthy it will.

If I am correct then the small leaf is not s keiki and it won't grow roots