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what should I do with my phal?

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by armandoarturo, Dec 27, 2013.

  1. Dec 27, 2013 #1
    armandoarturo

    armandoarturo Member

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    Hello everyone!
    So.. I have a litte question here....
    I bought a beautiful phalaenopsis about 2 weeks ago.... And it suddenly dropped all the flowers!! I just dont know why, maybe it got stressed during transportation, or it didnt like the weather, I dont really know..
    the thing is that I dont know what to do with the spike, and I want you guys to suggest to me what to do...
    I dont really think it was done with the blooming... it only had about 5 flowers and it seems that there was another one coming from the tip of the spike...
    What should I do?
    1) should I leave the spike and see if it keeps blooming?
    2) should I cut it an inch above the next viable node at the top?
    3) should I cut right above of one of the first nodes at the bottom?
    4) should I cut the whole spike off?

    here is a picture of it,
    [​IMG]

    and also the top of the spike (does that looks like a future bloom?)
    [​IMG]


    And..... here is the first viable node at the top of the flower spike...
    [​IMG]


    so... what would you guys do??
    thanks a lot once more, I really appreciate all your help and advice!!
     
  2. Dec 27, 2013 #2
    chicago chad

    chicago chad Active Member

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    Cut off the whole spike. On occasion you can get one to respike from one of the nodes but it will always have less flowers. It is better to let it respike in a few months.
     
  3. Dec 27, 2013 #3
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I would also do as Chad said and cut off the spike. However, it is personal preference and a lot depends on the health of the plant. Your plant appears to be healthy. If you cut the spike back to a node as you mentioned, you may get a new spike from the base of the plant in the spring plus one from the old spike. Regardless, if possible, let your plant get a couple weeks of chilly nights to encourage a new spike.
     
  4. Jan 6, 2014 #4
    seidenfaden

    seidenfaden Well-Known Member

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    I agree with what Chad and Kelly advise, that is cut the spike off at the base. It is possible that the plant had been in flower for some time before you bought it and that the move from one set of conditions to another could have caused stress to your plant. There could have been a number of other reason, for example the plant was too wet or too cool or both.

    The leaves of Phalaenopsis are the storage reserve for the plants energy so it is important to let the plant rest after flowering when normally, new roots and new leaves are produced; if the plant is well established with many leaves, there might be vegetative growth as well as spikes developing. Sometimes we leave the plant in flower far too long, which reduces the plants energy and could result in the lower leaves shrivelling. A higher nitrogen feed is beneficial during vegetative growth.
    Hope this helps.
     
    january and Marni like this.
  5. Jan 12, 2014 #5
    armandoarturo

    armandoarturo Member

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    Thank you so much guys for your help!
    I didnt realize I got answers until today...
    I was just about to cut it, but then I thought I should let the plant decide what to do... so I left the spike just like that... about a week after that, new growth started to appear at the top of the spike and also in the first node... it seems that it will flower twice from the same spike.
    Now that I've read what you guys said, should I still cut it?
    Thanks a lot for your support, I've been paying a lot of attention to my phals, and now Im giving them an excellent care with everything that I've learnt in here...
    By the way, I have another question... Im now using mircale gro orchid fertilizer... and it says that I should use 1/4 table spoon for every gallon...
    I believe its too much water waste and contamination... is it possible to recycle the same water and keep re-using it to water the same plant? I could store it in a jar, and keep reusing it for a couple of times... would it damage my plant? .. or maybe would it just wont have any more good benefits for my phal?
    thanks a lot once more!!
     
  6. Jan 16, 2014 #6
    armandoarturo

    armandoarturo Member

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    anyone :p?
     
  7. Jan 17, 2014 #7
    Sean Houtman

    Sean Houtman Active Member

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    If it has new buds, don't cut it.

    I wouldn't recommend reusing the fertilizer water on your orchids, but there isn't anything wrong with putting it in your garden. To avoid waste, make smaller batches or make a concentrate, and dilute as needed.
     
  8. Jan 18, 2014 #8
    masdyman masdyman

    masdyman masdyman New Member

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    Hello, I have a different opinion with this. If you have very few orchids or one why cut the spike off, you will have to wait probably 9-12 months for a new spike. Just cut the spike leaving 2 nodes and a new spike will emerge quicker or you can cut to the last node at the top. Experiment and see what you prefer. Yes a new spike will flower and look better, but for many the wait is too long and the orchid gets discarded as useless. If you have many Phalaenopsis to keep you focused then removing the spike is probably the best option.
    Regards
    Keith
    The facebook orchid & gardening group.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 18, 2014
  9. Jan 18, 2014 #9
    armandoarturo

    armandoarturo Member

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    Thank you so much for all your opinions, its great to have different points of view.
    Im just going to leave it like that, I only have 3 phals, one of them is currently in bloom, the other one is the one we are talking about, and another that was my first phal.
    I would never consider discard them or throw them away, Im really patient and I enjoy caring and watching them grow and bloom once more.

    I left the spike and about a week after this post, meanwhile I was waiting for an answer, a new blooms started to grow from the tip of the same spike, and a week after that I realized that theres a another spike growing out of other node at the top, Im so glad I didnt cut it, Im so excited to have two blooms going out of the same spike!

    And now, im even more excited because my third phal, (the first one I got, a year ago) seems to be about to spike!!! , I can see a little swallowed spot with an upcoming little green thing! I dont really think its an aerial root, or at least I hope its not haha.
     
  10. Jan 19, 2014 #10
    cnslr81

    cnslr81 New Member

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    I agree with others, cut the spike. Rarely do I leave the spike once the flowers fall off.