What to do with spikes?

[New Orchid Lover]

I'm very happy to say that I've had my phal for a year now and she's doing really well. The orchid had two secondary spikes which had 3 and 5 blooms. One spike has now lost all its blossoms and the second spike has one flower left.

I know I now need to cut the spikes from the bottom somewhere once the blossoms are gone.....can you please advise how?

Also, I have a slotted plastic pot and two of the roots are squeezing through the slits. I don't suppose there's anything I can do about that?

Thank you for your help.

[coeruleo]

i only cut the spikes if the tip dies out. most of the time if it stays green, it will eventually grow some more buds. if the tip does die, then i cut it back just below the first old flower notch. the little bracts that show like a join on the stem can produce a new branch sometimes. some people just cut the old spike off, assuming that the plant will grow a new stronger spike because it is not wasting energy to produce new buds on the old spike. i have had some put out new spikes while the old one was still going though, so i'm not sure how critical that is.

[New Orchid Lover]

Thanks Night Bloomer. The secondary spike and the original spike number 1 is starting to turn a peachy brown. That one has no flowers left. Spike number 2 and its secondary spike is still green as it still has one flower left. I doubt very much that the existing spikes will grow more spikes at this point. So I'm not clear as to where the original spike should be cut. Thanks!

[Katherine]

When you re-pot you can take a sharp knife and cut the roost. Sprinkle with cinnamon and pot it up. It isn't hurting anything. orchids are epiphyes and their roos go where ever.

[rich63]

Not a good idea to put cinnamon on orchid roots. This will cause them to dry out and will cause them to die. Cinnamon is a great for fungus and bacteria above the medium. Not to be use on the roots though. Take Care, Rich

[Chris1140]

Thanks Night Bloomer. The secondary spike and the original spike number 1 is starting to turn a peachy brown. That one has no flowers left. Spike number 2 and its secondary spike is still green as it still has one flower left. I doubt very much that the existing spikes will grow more spikes at this point. So I'm not clear as to where the original spike should be cut. Thanks!

The existing green spike may grow a secondary spike at one of the "nodes" on the bloom stem-sometimes if you look closely you can see a dormant bud on one. Again, it is your choice to leave it and see if a secondary spike will grow, or to cut the whole thing of at the base and wait for it to bloom next year in it's normal blooming season. Any time you cut something on an orchid plant you should sterilize the blade to prevent spreading any diseases to your other orchids. The easiest way to sterilize is with a flame, either a blow torch or just a cigarette lighter with the flame turned up on high. Just be sure you get the blade really hot.