Where to cut a Paph spike - Orchid Board

RosieC · #1 03-21-2009, 08:59 AM

Ok, it's got to that sad time when the flower is gone and I need to remove the spike from my first Paph.

I know how/where to cut them on a Phal, but I'm not sure with a Paph. The spike goes down into the leaves and I don't know how I can cut it right down where it starts.

Do I just cut arround the place it emerges from the leaves and leave the rest of it down inside the folds of leaves

BikerDoc5968 · #2 03-21-2009, 10:10 AM

I wil assume this is a single bloom and not a sequential...cut t the lowes poit you can...the spike won't branch...not like phals

RosieC · #3 03-22-2009, 06:32 AM

Thanks Howard.

Yes, it's a single bloom Paph. OK, I'll cut it as low as I can. I guess that like Phals I can use cinnomon on the cut, is that right?

BikerDoc5968 · #4 03-22-2009, 11:51 PM

Don't need to do asnything with the cut end paph or phal... the spike is a "one-way" kinda thing so you really don't have to be concerned about crown rot and for the paph, that growth will begin to die off within the next several months anyway.

RosieC · #5 03-23-2009, 05:06 PM

Thanks again Howard.

I've cut the spike now and I did put a bit of cinnomon on, but it seemed a lot drier inside than the Phals ones I have cut in the past so I was not certain if I needed to (I just thought it couldn't hurt). I think it had already started to dry up before I cut it off, unlike the Phal ones, which would make sence as it does not flower from it again.