The Orchid Garden

From a novice – Saving an orchid for next year flowering

Question:

Hello Brian,     It sounds as though you have a Phalaenopsis orchid plant.  Since you cut the flower stem once to promote a second flowering from the same stem, I would suggest you cut the entire stem off as low as you can.  Why?  It takes quite a bit of energy for the phal. plant to produce flowers and it has done this twice without a rest in between.     If the phal. is a large plant having 4 or more mature leaves, it may produce a new flowering stem in the spring but if it has fewer leaves, then it may take 2 years to bloom again.     How are the leaves?   Are they nice and firm to the touch or somewhat limp? A healthy phal leaves will be firm.     You didn’t mention where you live or where and how you grow it.  Also, you didn’t mention anything about having repotted it, phals love being repotted every 1 to 2 years into fresh potting medium.     Good luck and good growing.

Response:

I have an ordinary orchid house plant which I cut off aat the 3rd node after flowering the first year. The 2nd year flowering finished 2 weeks ago and I would appreciate knowing whether to cut at the first node of the new growth (which is very near the 1st years third node)  or whether I should cut it back to the 3rd or even the 2nd node of the original stem. Guidance would be much appreciated. Thanks

Response:

Hi Brian, I am going to make the assumption that you are talking about a Phalaenopsis orchid. There are 2 schools of thought. 1) cut it and give the plant a rest. It takes energy to maintain flowering for so long. Or 2) see if it will still continue to flower. If the spike is green without any red pigment to it chances are that its habit is to continue to produce flowers, and maybe even new spikes as the season approaches. Depends on the species in the plant’s background. So you really can do what you want, as long as the plant appears healthy and growing. Congratulations on doing a good job of raising your orchid. K Barrett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have an ordinary orchid house plant which I cut off aat the 3rd node after flowering the first year. The 2nd year flowering finished 2 weeks ago and I would appreciate knowing whether to cut at the first node of the new growth (which is very near the 1st years third node)  or whether I should cut it back to the 3rd or even the 2nd node of the original stem. Guidance would be much appreciated. Thanks

Response:

Filed under: Phalaenopsis Orchid

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