Should I or shouldn't I cut the spike????

[Warinsbloom]

I have a mini phal, that lost its flowers along time ago...the tip of spike has already started to dry up...I wonder if its too late to cut spike? And is it totally necessary to cut the spike??? I've gotten mixed messages on this one...I want to encourage it to flower again

[orcoholic]

You can cut the spike. It's never too late, only too early. It's not necessary to cut it. It just doesn't look good.

[Warinsbloom]

is the base of the spike the best place to cut? and should I put some cinnamon on the spot where I cut? will this hasten another spike to grow?

[Cjcorner]

If you want more flowers, cut just below the last flowering node. The node is the little bump you see every couple inches or so on the flower spike. Where the flowers fell off, cut just below where the first flower used to be. If you want the plant to rest, then you cut the spike close to the plant and apply cinnamon.

[mayres]

IMHO, assuming the plant is healthy, cutting the spike or not cutting the spike is a matter of aesthetics. Personally I don't care for the look of subspikes - branches heading off at 90 degree angles and heading off in "un-natural" directions - just me. Also flowers tend to in general be slightly smaller and less of them than what you will usually find with a new spike coming up from the base of the plant. There is no right or wrong way to do it - whatever you want to accomplish with your plant(s) is OK. Another issue to throw into this mix is the natural blooming cycle of phals for your (our) area. In general, the majority of hybrid phals should be spiking now. If they are not they "may" not spike until the next natural period. These periods are influenced by growers who can control the period of blooming through altering the environment in greenhouses year round to make them bloom whenever they choose - for special occasions such as valentines day, mothers day, Christmas, year round coverage, etc. Once we acquire them it will take some time (assuming you are a home grower) for the plant to aclimate to our conditions and then it will at some point find its natural blooming period/cycle and will in general repeat this on a yearly basis.
Enjoy your mini phal!

[hank3443]

Hi, I agree with Mayres, the old spikes do not look that attractive and the flower count is not the same or the size of the blooms, that said i think you should try it just for the experience if nothing else. Hank.........

[Cjcorner]

This is one of the "reblooms" i'm waiting on...it's got a nice sunny corner in the new sunroom. I think the sideways thing looks cool myself...lol. From the looks of a couple buds I may be showing pics in a few days.