Hello, my yellow phal is still blooming, but I want to know if I should cut the spike after phal will finish blooming one inch above the third node as usually or leave the spike uncut? Someone said that yellow phals will rebloom from the old nodes, is this true for my type of phal, considering that it is not exactly yellow, it has red spots? Thanks in advance.
Lara, I've heard this as well but after 20 plus years growing orchids never confimed if true or not. We have bunches of orchid species, but few Phals. I'm hopeful if we get this subject back near the top of the board ArticSean will pop up and answer. He appears to have a good deal of experience with this tribe of orchids.
I only have a few Phals and no yellows, so no direct experience. Some Phal species continue to bloom from the same inflorescence (spike) for years, although not continuously. If your hybrid has inherited this characteristic then you will see a 'mitten' at the end of the spike and the spike remain green (this same 'mitten' shape is also how you tell the difference between a new spike and a new root). Some Phal hybrids finish flowering and then all/part/most of the spike dies back turning brown. In the end your decision comes down to aesthetics, what looks better to you - your plant with a partial spike until it blooms again (hopefully from a remaining node) or a brand new spike which your orchid will produce when it's time to flower again. I sometimes cut my spikes all the way down to the leaves and other times I'll leave several nodes. Shaun
Photopro and Arcticshaun, thanks for answering! I will leave the spike for it is green and see if anything happen with it. In the lower node where was a first flower something is growing. I'm not sure what is it, because it is too small (I bought it already without first flower, for some reason phal dropped it). Another thing is that phal is dropping some buds and open up other on the same spike. For example, it dropped the 1st flower, 2nd is blooming, 3rd is also dropped, 4th is blooming, 5th is dropped, 6th is opened today, 7th is not dropped yet, 8th is dried out, and then is two little buds on the top.
Bud blast isn't uncommon but there are a few things to watch out for. Ripening fruit (esp. bananas, apples) and natural gas pilot lights near the plant are one and extremes in temperature are another. When my Phals are in full bloom I usually move them away from my lights/windows to areas that are a little cooler and underlit - mostly just to display them but they also last a bit longer too. Sometimes it seems as if the plant just withdraws it's energies from certain buds for no apparent reason. Shaun
Arcticshaun, thanks. I'm trying to create a good environment for the plant, but it is too hot in my place even with air conditioners. Humidity is 60-70%, which is suppose to be good. I hope in time the plant will get better.
