BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Orchids where to cut

hi this is my first time here and the first orchid i have owned. i have a phalaenopsis orchid and i was wondering if someone could draw me a picture of where to cut the old bloom off to try and get it to re-bloom? i have read all kinds of things saying to cut it off at the last spike but thats like the whole plant! mabey im not getting the whole picture.

thanks

nate

Hi Nate,

Did you find out more about where to cut your orchid stem? If not, you want to cut just above one of the nodes (the little bumps where the individual flowers emerge). If you are fortunate, a new stem will appear and give you more flowers.

Good luck and let us know how you're doing <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I also have a phalaenopsis orchid. It bloomed once, before it ended up in my hands, but the stem was cut out completely. I have had the plant for 10 months now - 3 new leaves came out. How do I get it to bloom?
I'm new to the board, by the way :-)))
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Oksana

Oksana, it sounds like you're doing a very good job taking care of your orchid. Many Phals need cool night time temperatures around 60 degrees to form their spikes. Now is the time to let them cool off at night until you see a new spike forming at the base of the plant. It will look very much like a new root, but will grow upwards. Then you can put the plant back where you've been growing it and watch the spike grow. Be sure that you keep the plant facing the same way until it blooms or the spike will be twisted and ungainly. Good luck!!

Susan,
Thanks so much for your response!
Are the roots supposed to be partially visible? My plant's base is covered by soil. Is it the wrong way to have it?
Sorry if these questions sound stupid - I'd never had an orchid before.
Thanks again for your insights!

Hi Oksangal,
The roots showing (called arial roots) are very normal for orchids. They should not be forced into the pot because it could break them.

When you say soil, do you mean the bark medium? If it looks like soil, the bark is badly decomposed and needs to be repotted.

No questions are stupid questions!

OrchidTraci I would have to agree with you on the bark medium looking like soil needs to be repoted. Although I have an orchid blooming right now that I just bought from Carter and Holmes that is planted in perlite and Pro-mix, and is doing fine. I don't know if I would plant in this mix personaly, but I am leaving this plant alone till the flowers fade away. Just an observation.
Oh and to answer the thread question. Cut the spike back to the just above the first dormant node. Its the triangler shaped area along the spike where the flowers emerge. The dormant ones are the ones that havn't had anything growing from them yet, and many times will come to life once the old flowers are gone.
Josh