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Supporting phal spikes - what if...?

17 years ago

This is the first time I've been to this forum - I'm more of a foliage person than a flower fan, BUT - I now have a NOID phal (as you can see, I've read the FAQ!), and I have a question I haven't seen a reference to in my searches. My little fellow is on a fairly high plant stand, and it occurs to me that it would look quite nice if I removed the support from the spike and let it hang down. Would this be reasonable? Advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Comments (8)

claritamaria
17 years ago
It does look nice! Its how its done in nature :-) Please be aware that you run a much higher risk of breaking the florescence (spike) without support.
bittergreen
Original Author
17 years ago
Yes, I suppose they would do that in nature, unless there are little fairies with stakes and butterfly clips that live under the leaves! I realize that I might accidentally break the spike through my own clumsiness, but I wonder if the weight of it alone would break it - after all, they are cultivated hybrids, and the spike has been supported all along, so it might be weak. Ah the dilemma!

I do have a truly wonderful life - I can afford to worry about these matters!
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Does your plant have a tag? Certain Phals can take cool temps better than others. Your temps are low especially during the day. My opinion on spikes is to cut them off. Those old spikes might produce a bloom here and there but it will never look good. They will get straggley and ugly. Cut them back to the crown and let the plant make new growth over the summer. It will grow leaves and roots and you should get new spikes in the fall. Your temps are low for these plants. I would increase the sunlight during the day to warm them. Night temps are okay as long as they are warm during the day. I can't see the size pot this plant is in, but you can repot now to encourage new roots. Cut off the old spikes. Jane
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Thank you all for the responses. This plant is from EOOM. I do not see any old spikes on this plant, but I did count all the leaves on it including all the little ones on the bottom of the plant. Don't know if they really count because they are seedling size leaves. I probably got lucky, being Christmas time. I hope my plant is like Jeanne and branches next year too. I will try to figure out how to put a picture on a website so I can show you my new "baby".
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terpguy
17 years ago
I rarely stake my spikes anymore, only when the spike is too long and heavy or could become a cat toy do I break out the stakes. I like the au natural look :)
spiced_ham
17 years ago
Cut your stake short and bind the spike to it a about five inches below the first flower. The spike will arch over from the weight rather than snap at the base. You might want to go lower in a couple of increments two or three days apart to let the woody tissue in the spike loosen up and bend.

Unfortunately the flower orientation won't change.
bittergreen
Original Author
17 years ago
Excellent idea Ham! (I hope I can call you Ham.) I'll cut the stake and take it in stages. As far as the bloom orientation is concerned, the plant should be high enough for them to look down on me, which is essential anyway because of the 'cat toy' element (thank you terpguy).

And NOW, to start the EXPERIMENT!!! Bwahahahahahahah!!!!!
junglspy
17 years ago
hey every time i've taken a spike off the stake, it still stands straight up. because it got fastened to the stake while it was still forming, so it's been trained to stand straight up. i don't think it will break, but that's just my experience, you may want to play it safe, however...
spiced_ham
17 years ago
I prefer to be called Spammy.

Life's not as much fun around here without the looming threat of excommunication.
bittergreen
Original Author
17 years ago
I did take the stake off, and... nothing happened! The spike is starting to curve a little now, but I guess I was unduly concerned about it breaking. When and if it blooms again, I'll let it go where it will and see what it does.

Spammy - hmmm - I'm getting some strange visual images....

Thanks everybody!

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