Spike question

[SuZCC]

How far do you cut back spikes after they are done blooming? I have heard conflicting advice so I do nothing. Is it OK to cut the old dried spikes off?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Cut them back about one half of an inch above where they begin. Cut dry spikes all the way off if you want. No worries.

Cheers,
BD

[Cjcorner]

When a spike is done flowering on a phal you can cut it back just above a healthy green node then watch to see if you get a new branch to bloom or keikei. Or, you can let the plant rest by cutting the spike to where it's about two inches from the base of the spike. Dens you cut the spike when its done flowering to an inch or two from its base. It varies sometimes by the plant. Some phal species are what you call a sequential bloomer...they bloom one or two flowers at a time on the same spike, up to two years on the same spike.
Hope this helped...
Connie

[gbrice]

I usually cut mine back as far as I can leaving about half an inch. On phals, if you want to try and bloom them a second time in the same year, you can trim the spike back to the last node below the first flower. That last node will usually branch and produce another spike, or it may produce one or more keiki's.
-g

[yeahyeah]

Depends on the genra, some plants bloom off old spikes the following year.

[pavel]

It does vary by genera but since you mentioned dried up spikes (I'm assuming 'brown'), as BD said, go ahead and cut them off.