skip to main content

Woody stem

16 years ago

Ok, So I had a great Orchid. Huge with lots of flowers and it lasted over 6 months. It is the usual kind you see in stores. I think it is a deuo? Obviously a

rookie here. Their are two new leaves. One is very young and changing from

purple to green. The stem is now becoming woody from the top down. It is still

green for about 6 inches up. Is this supposed to happen. I repotted the moss

media would no longer drain properly and just stayed a mushy mess. The roots,

or bulbs or whatever they are seemed very healthy and new ones were everywhere. Basically I would like to keep this thing going until it is ready to

bloom again, and am worried about the dry woody stem. Should I trim off the

woody part or just leave it alone.

Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

early_bird_2007
16 years ago
I didn't understand "deuo". Anyway, if inflorescence is "woody" it's dead. It doesn't matter if you cut it now partially or wait till it's all dead.
mehitabel
16 years ago
Don't cut! Early bird, I think "woody" here may refer to part of the plant, not the flower stem.

Don't cut anything til you know what you have and what you are doing. If you can post a picture, you'll get better advice.

If you can't post a picture, visit the American Orchid Society web page culture sheets. Each one has a silhouette drawing of a type of orchid. Come back and tell us which one your orchid resembles, and you can get some good advice on how to grow it.
Related Discussions
Woody stem, pink spring flowers?
Q
Comments (4)
The first year I had this plant, it was still very herbaceous, so I had identified it as probably be catmint. But a few years later, it started to get the woody look and finally saw it at a local store also and realized it was a spiraea. I like it because you can cut it way down and it will still come back like champ (even cutting it in the same growing season)
...See More
woody stems on knock out roses
Q
Comments (9)
You only remove woody canes (older canes) because they are not as prolific as new canes. You should try not to remove more than a third of the plant at once. If I were you, I would remove dead wood, assess where you are at, and then take out one or two older canes. This should make the bush put out new canes. To get a fuller shape on your knockout, prune to an outward facing bud versus an inner facing one. You don't want a lot of canes crossing in the middle. If it as tall as you want it to get, I also might get rid of some of the canes comes straight out on top to give it a more rounded appearance, but that depends on what look you are looking for.
...See More
Woody stem?
Q
Comments (4)
I don't think it is a clem, but maybe some Southern Californians might recognize it. If no one has a clue, you could try posting in the vines forum, or the one asking identification for unknown plants. From the picture it looks more like a small tree or shrub than a vine. But it sure is pretty. Would probably die in a New York minute in our New England Winter, unless kept as a houseplant.
...See More
Is it possible to graft woody stems of itoh peonies?
Q
Comments (2)
"My guess is that if a division of an itoh peony is planted sideways in the ground, it will force the entire length of the woody stem to become tuberous, or at least produce roots/tubers from each underground eye." A woody stem may root, but the stem will not become tuberous (different cell structure). You will have greater success with root division and maybe grafting hardened stems (w/buds) onto herbaceous rootstock.
...See More
xmpraedicta
16 years ago
I think it's a phal - don't spikes left on the plant die back from top down, turning 'woody'? Google phal and let us know if that's what you have
orchid126
16 years ago
If it was the stem that held the flowers, it's called a spike. Often the spike stays green and may sprout again. But more often the spike starts to brown from the top down. If the spike turns brown all the way to it's base, it won't bloom again.
jane__ny
16 years ago
Maybe its a older dendrobium cane or spike. Don't cut anything until you identify the plant.

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Small Garden? You Can Still Do Bamboo

By Matt Kilburn

Forget luck. Having bamboo that thrives on a wee plot just takes planning, picking the right variety, and keeping runners in check

GARDENING GUIDES Garden Myths to Debunk as You Dig This Fall and Rest Over Winter

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Termites hate wood mulch, don’t amend soil for trees, avoid gravel in planters — and more nuggets of garden wisdom

FALL AND THANKSGIVING 5 Container Gardens for Fall, the Holidays and Beyond

Make planting easy with a single container, year-round plants and a sprinkling of simple seasonal accents

FRONT YARD IDEAS Welcome Edibles Into the Front Yard for Fresh Food and More

By Abundant City

Give your front yard design a boost and maybe even make new friends by growing fruits and vegetables

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Hibiscus Syriacus ‘Sugar Tip’

As pretty as a party dress, ‘Sugar Tip’ has layers of pink that catch the eyes of butterflies

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Prairie Wildflowers That Can Heal Your Soil

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Get free, organic soil fertilizer with nitrogen-pumping plants that draw pollinators too

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Branches and Berries to Spruce Up Holiday Decor

By Paintbox Garden

Bring garden cuttings in from the cold to warm up seasonal arrangements and decorate your home for the holidays

TREES Native Plant Alternatives to Invasive Common Buckthorn

By Pollination Press LLC

Learn how to identify and control this aggressive plant, and what to grow in its place

GARDENING GUIDES Hypericum Prolificum Brings the Best of St. Johnswort to the Garden

By Curtis Adams

This eastern North American species pairs bright yellow summer flowers with compact shrubbery

GREEN DECORATING Bamboo Products — Earth Friend or Foe?

By Julia Pockett

The ecofriendliness of this grass for flooring, wall coverings and furniture isn't cut and dried. Get the facts here

Sponsored

Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers

49 Reviews

Columbus Area's Luxury Design Build Firm | 17x Best of Houzz Winner!

More Discussions

My first keiki!

2

Will Orchid stem regrow? NEWBIE

7

New spikes and terminal spike on orchid.

12

Orchid root rot

1

Source for Cypripedium formosanum?

1