Dtps. Tzu Chiang Orange Safe to Cut Spike???

[Cattleya17]

Hello im sure you guys get asked this alot. i was wondering if you can do this with all phals? i know that the more exotic types such as bellina tend to bloom from the same spikes for years!!! but i Have a Dtps. Tzu Chiang Orange that finished blooming about a month mybe 2 month ago. already made a new leaf which has fully expanded and is now growing roots!!! so i wanna know if its safe to cut this spike. Im hoping that cutting it will help to initiate some more blooms especially since the days are shortening and it gett ing cooler at night, which i know initiates spiking in some. the spike is still green. does this make a difference???? Please, Despite the frequency in sure you get asked this can You Please Help me!!!!!!!! I just dont wanna mess anything up

[quiltergal]

Hi there Catt. There are a couple of schools of thought on cutting spikes. One says when they're done blooming cut the spike all the way back and allow the plant to go through a new growth cycle and store up some energy for next seasons bloom cycle. The other says leave alone until they turn brown. Sometimes a plant will bloom again off an existing spike.

I'm firmly in the cut it off camp. I prefer to let it grow some new leaves and when it blooms again in the spring the blooms will be larger and more numerous. The flowers from a secondary blooming are usually smaller and not as numerous. JMO.

[mehitabel]

Hi, Catt 17. You aren't going to hurt any phal or mess up anything by cutting off the spike. That's true even of summer-bloomers (the ones you're supposed to keep the spikes of).

Keeping the spike on the summer bloomers is done because they will continue to bloom with one or two flowers, as well as blooming on the new spikes.

I looked Tzu Chiang Orange up in Orchiwiz, and it is just about half summer-blooming ancestry, and half winter-blooming. Also, it is 25% equestris, so it should bloom with many flowers at once, and this would be furthered by cutting off the old spike.

Some people say "never cut the spike if it's green", and it's true you can get one or two more flowers at a time off it by keeping it. Cutting it off makes it likelier to form a new spike that will have more flowers on it.

A healthy vigorous plant will sometimes follow up with a new spike in just a few months after cutting one off.

I usually cut the spike off when thru blooming, tho not every single time. There's a lot of room there for individual taste or preference.

BTW, Tzu Chiang Orange looks like a really lovely one. Congrats.

[Cattleya17]

It really is when it was in bloom the flowers were a peachy pink orange! with about 11 or 12 flowers. with a delicious Fragrance!!!! i loved every day it was in bloom. i cut the spike. i think its best to let it rest and grow which its doing plenty of!!! two roots, and it made one leaf that has fully expanded and ive now noticed a new leaf emerging last night you couldnt see it unless you looked right ar the growing tip but as of this afternoon you can clearly see it!!!!! i love this little plant

[mehitabel]

Thanks for the description, Catt. The color sounds lovely, and I really do love plants with fragrance.

I notice Norman's is offering it right now. I'm hoping to order from them later this month, and have put it on my list. Ii love the multifloras, too.

Glad yours is growing well.