New spike? Need help!

13 years ago

Fair warning: I'm new to orchids and gardening all around. I purchased this orchid in April and around the first of June, the flowers all fell. I repotted it and have been continuing my normal routine of care. I never cut back the original spike because it never turned brown but this new spike/stem has grown out of the original one and it now has new blooms on it. Can you tell me what I should be doing for it? Is it healthy? Should I cut one or both of the spikes? I can't seem to find anything on my particular situation, although I'm sure that's due to my own ignorance. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments (4)

terpguy
13 years ago
Congratulations, your plant is happy! Keep doing exactly what you are doing :) Phal flower spikes can most definitely branch off, like this, and usually do so when they are getting good culture.
Novice27
Original Author
13 years ago
That's great news! Thank you for your response. The main spike no longer has any buds on it. Is there hope of those coming back?
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bob8_gw
13 years ago
It is possible to get a bud or two on the end of the old spike. I would just cut that stem off at the bottom and wait until next winter when it will grow a new one.
girlfriend45
13 years ago
Your plant looks good. Leave the new spike alone because it will sprout new flowers. If the top spike has buds coming out then do not mess with it because it will sprout a couple of new flowers. If there are no buds on it, then cut it back. Find the next bud(node) ABOVE the new spike and cut ABOVE that node. Then leave plant alone until it completes flowering and the new flowers fall off.