REMOVING OLD FLOWER STALKS:

[weiss]

I'm wondering what your thoughts are on removing the old flower stalks? I know that some of you feel it best to remove them while others prefer to leave them on the plant. I'm wondering if some of you can explain why? For instance, the late Dr. John Martin always removed them after re-potting, as he felt that by removing them the root system would have more energy, which it needs after re-potting. I know a lot of people leave them in hopes of another flower quicker. Another thought I have had is that maybe it really doesn't matter from the fact that in nature some are left while others die and wither away, or they are broken off.
Finally, which plants do you "never" remove the flower stalk from, for eg. the bellina would be one, and why is this so?

[Phantasm]

I suspect you are referring to phalaenopsis plants?
They can literally bloom themselves to death if it is a small plant. If the spike is dry, then it is finished. If not, then it will bloom at the next node on the stem.
To get a stronger plant and better flowers cutting off the spike can be quite beneficial.
For plants like violacea, mariae, amboinensis, venosa, bellina, lueddemannia, etc., they are sequential bloomers and continue to bloom on the terminal end of the inflorescence. You can leave the spikes on these as long as the plant is growing well.

[Oscarman]

Definitely cut off flower spikes when repotting - the plant has more important things to do, like get established in a new pot and mix. I will also remove them if I feel the plant is to small, let the plant grow larger and then see what it can do for flowering then instead.