should i cut old spike in favor or new spikes

[paamul]

I have a Phal hybrid with a spike that just stopped
blooming a month ago after being in bloom since last
summer. Meanwhile it produced a new leaf and a new
spike with 3 branches that all have buds on them. The old spike seems viable and is just turning red at the tip.
Should I cut this older spike above a node to see if it
will produce new blooms? Should I wait until the other blooms open? Will trying to force the old spike to bloom again stress this hybrid that is putting out new
blooms on a new spike? see photo. Thanks!

[tucker85]

The objective for leaving the old spike intact is to get the plant to produce more flowers. Since your phal is already producing flowers on a new spike, I would cut off the old one because it just detracts from the appearance. If you prefer to try to rebloom the old spike just as an experiment, there's nothing wrong with doing that.

[silken]

The old spike sort of looks like it has started to die back so it may be finished anyways. As tucker85 said, no harm in cutting it partway, but I think I would cut it all the way and hopefully all the plant's energy will go into large and long lasting blooms on the new spike.

[paamul]

Thanks Tucker 85 and Silken...I'll probably just cut it back....

[RosieC]

I would cut it back. The redening at the end looks like it's starting to die back on it's own so I would doubt that one would flower again and it just detracts from the appearance.

Cut it back to the base near where it comes out from the base of the leaves. Cut as close as you can to the plant without damaging the leaves.

Usually I would say that the plant will produce a new spike when it's ready and doesn't need any of the old one left behind for that... but you've already got your new spike so I won't bother