Psychopsis with broken flower spike tip

[CZF]

I've heard you should not cut the flower spikes on these guys, but I got a damaged one, deeply discounted, that the flower spike was broken right at the end.

In this case, should the flower spike be cut back?

[Ray]

No. I have seen them start a side branch.

[CZF]

Oh good! It's actually my sister's (I gave it to her) I told her not to cut the spike yet, so I'll tell her to leave it!

[Roberta]

Echoing Ray's comment... mine do side branches all the time. even when the original blooming tip is done (and brown and crisp), a side branch is very likely and it just keeps going, often for several years!

[CZF]

I hope it will make a new branch soon!

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Echoing Ray's comment... mine do side branches all the time. even when the original blooming tip is done (and brown and crisp), a side branch is very likely and it just keeps going, often for several years!

Same with mine, and I didn't realize that it was so common! Some of the spikes on mine are 7-8 years old, at least, thanks to this branching habit.

[bogdan]

They branch to produce flowers or keiki, as mine did recently. I had no idea that they can do that, but now I have a tiny Psychopsis starting a new life in its own pot. As if I hadn't enough orchids!