Phals with unstaked spikes
 

I don't bother staking most phal spikes these days and I'm really pleased with the results.

So I thought I would start this thread for people to show pictures of how NOT staking spikes has worked out of for them. Some of mine to follow :biggrin:

---------- Post added at 04:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:41 PM ----------

A NoID, living on my mantlepiece just now.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3679/9...6bb1dc04_z.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7334/9...060ffb01_z.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5335/9...68eaa8cd_z.jpg

---------- Post added at 05:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:44 PM ----------

Here is another, this is Sogo Lovely, also in flower and living in my mantelpiece just now.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/9...9afc411c_z.jpg

That's a beautiful phal, Rosie! Great photographs also. I don't stake most of my phals either. The only downside is that you need a place to display them, either a hanging basket or a shelf or mantle.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...white-phal.jpg

That's gorgeous Tucker!

Yeah, they do need somewhere they can be displayed. I generally have them on a mantle, or on one of the small stools at the base of my fireplace.

I do have some that don't hang down, but they still take up a lot of space!

---------- Post added at 05:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:34 PM ----------

Here's an example one that doesn't drop down... but takes up a LOT of space in bloom. This is from last year, but it's starting to open the first flowers again this year, and again the spikes are holding at a similar angle.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7...69cecf3f_z.jpg

phalaenopsis without stick are more natural, and more beautiful :)

Whoaaa......these are amazing....ya'll are making me excited even more for next year when all of mine decide to hopefully bloom!! GORGEOUS!!

Gorgeous display of blooms....I wish I had a bigger space for a cascading presentation....but staking the spikeis a must for a windowsill grower like me.

I don't stake either. I love the natural look!! Rosie and tucker you both have some very beautiful plants! Great pictures too!

I grow phals on the windowledge as well. The spikes tend not to drop down until the weight of the flowers pulls them down. While the spikes are developing they go sideways and just overlap the other orchids filling the rest of the windowlege (I turn them so they are not getting in the way of curtains, but usually they grow more towards the light).

As the flowers open the spike get's heavier and then you need space to let them hang over the edge (although some don't get that heavy and just grow out sideways). That's when they go on the mantelpiece or one of the stools below it. At that point you do need space ;)

My shelf is high so I just may give this a try.I have one of my paph's spiking now. I'm a bit twiterpated. It's the first time it has bloomed for me.

The only ones' I have ever just let do this have been my equestris and my mannii. This year I tried staking my mannii can't decide which way I like it. And last year when my equestris bloomed last year it got so long I had to stake it up.

Beautiful everyone!!! I never stake mine either... I love the way they look without stakes :biggrin:

I can post a couple pics, but the ones blooming now are species, so there isn't as many flowers :coverlaugh: