The Orchid Garden

Phalenopsis done blooming

Question:

I know nothing about growing orchids, other than I have managed to keep my lone phalenopsis alive and blooming for a couple of months now.  The question is: Now that it appears to be done blooming, what do I do with the long stalk sticking up in the air with no more apparant purpose?  Do I cut this off, will it die back by itself, or does it actually still have a purpose? Anything else I should do for the plant in its resting state?  And how long before I can expect to see new flowers again? Thanks! Kathy

Response:

k kI know nothing about growing orchids, other than I have managed to kkeep my lone phalenopsis alive and blooming for a couple of months know.  The question is: Now that it appears to be done blooming, what kdo I do with the long stalk sticking up in the air with no more kapparant purpose?  Do I cut this off, will it die back by itself, or kdoes it actually still have a purpose? k kAnything else I should do for the plant in its resting state?  And how klong before I can expect to see new flowers again? Kathy, Actually, it still has a purpose. You’ll notice that starting about 1" or so above the potting medium there is a node? And spaced at regular intervals up the spike there are other nodes? Sterilize a sharp pair of scissors and cut about 1" above the 2nd or 3rd node from the bottom. In a month or less you may get a new spike from the main spike. If the area above the node dries and dies, make a new cut at the next lower node. If you run out of nodes, well, you’ve lost nothing. More often than not though, you’ll get new flowers. Have fun, and let us all know how it works out. -Rod- Rod & Susan Venger, Venger’s Orchids Homepage http://usa.net/venger/ Listings Available – Email us for your copies —

Response:

I’m also pretty new to orchids and had a related question about my blooming phalenopsis. I’ve had him for two summers now and he’s bloomed beautifully from April to August each year (single spike with five flowers). I’m concerned though that he’s not put out any new leaves since the blooming finished last year. Will I be overstressing him if I cut the spike off above the 2nd or 3rd node and try to coax out a second set of flowers? Should I let things be for this year and try to encourage leaf growth? How important are the number of leaves? He has four now, two rather limp ones below and two firm, waxy ones above. He’s a great little plant and I’d like to do right by him. Alison (in Wyoming, where it’s so dry it’s amazing any orchid will even try to survive . . . )

Response:

If you cut the stalk, if it’s still healthy and not dried out, just below where the last flower grew from,  it may send up another shoot of blooms. However if you hope to keep the plant long term you should cut it off. I was told if it flowers a second time form the same stalk you might as well throw it out after that as you will have caused it to drain most of the life out of it by forcing it to bloom a second time. The best thing to do after it blooms is to put it in a bright window, no sun though or it will burn, and fertilize it to promote leaf and root growth. The better the new leaves and roots look the better and bigger the flower stalk will be in the fall. The fall or early winter because Phals. respond to cooler temps. about October by sending up a new flower spike which will most likely flower around december or so. good luck!!

Response:

Filed under: Growing Orchids

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