To snip or not to snip phal orchid old spike?

[Orquiadicto]

I completely agree with Amey and Bruce. I always cut the spikes completely to give the plant the possibility of growing roots and leaves.

[coeruleo]

i leave mine alone, if they are green and alive. eventually most will produce more flowers. i don't do this competitively, so i like to have even a few flowers. i have had my plants grow new leaves and roots even though there was s till an old flower stem, and grow while flowering, so i'm not sure one way is better than the other. may be a matter of taste. i had a red phal that sent out side shoots for about 2 years from one old spike, and in the meantime it sent out another new spike and they both still produce a few flowers at a time. others drop their old spikes right away, so maybe breeding affects them? as long as they are not unsightly, i leave them alone.

[jai_star]

Ok here is my philosophy.... Phal sets spike in fall - early winter , flowers in early spring - by mid spring some flowers would drop now cut back spike above node when done flowering.
By beginning or mid summer cut off ALL spikes down to the base allow the Phal to regenerate energy during summer with long days and warm temperature. By fall the cycle repeats .. yes if you keep allowing it to flower it will disrupt it cycle I have 2 Phals at the moment that i have cut back they started growing a leaf but that leaf has not gotten bigger for almost 5 months!! This is a prime example if you keep wanting them to bloom they will not spend energy growing leaves and roots. I will cut them off by summer 3 more months to enjoy flowers