Whitecat8- Been busy trying to get my dissertation written, so I havent been keeping up with the posts either. Thanks for the comments on the basement set-up. I plan on taking pics and posting while we build the permanent structure this winter/spring. I have a lot of practical ideas (some from ideas here, other from experience I cannot wait to share/implement). Its been busy this year: marriage, new house, landscapping the yard, graduation, new job, and trying to get the orchids taken care of. I think between it all they received a certain amount of neglect - which stimulated blooming. I cannot remember how many times they were fertilized this summer, I may not have even done it more than three times?? I do know one thing: I unnecessarily pampered most of them. Before I used to measure the fertilizer and check to make sure water didnt end up in the apex of the phals, etc. Now I just turn the water on and soak everything. Elvis, my cymbidium is spiking, I leave it outside until its almost frozen (I loose leaves every year - but so what). I actually went to fish the new divisions I made from the backyard and post to see if anyone wanted them - but they uhm...died. I still have one huge one (4 feet wide that will get divided with an axe in a few years). Right now, I have a few winter cattleyas, a dendrobium (since September!), 2 vandas, 5-6 phals, a Tolumnia, and Oncidium Sharry Baby flowering. Also jamed under the lights are some epi cuttings (kind gift from another Garden web memeber)growing dangerously quick and some amaryllis bulbs that will flower the week before and 4 weeks after Christmas no mater what because they are just a pain but I like them. I am so sold on the indoor lights though, I will never keep orchids near a window again. I never liked the idea of a "grow room" but now I just bring blooming orchids upstairs to enjoy - the only problem is everything is blooming! take care all - merry christmas and happy holidays.

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".

Robert, you're as cute as your dog. :) LOL! and I meant that in a good way. (blush) I am "SO" not doing any more plant shopping. I've run out of pots and need to figure out how I'm going to repot those 18 plants that just arrived from Logees on Weds. I did one plant so far - the tall rose-cactus was done this morning, and promptly moved outside onto the porch. Half a day of rain, and afternoon sun shouldn't hurt it any. 17 more to go.

Should I cut the spike off my Phalaenopsis or Doritaenopsis Orchid now that the flowers are nearly all spent?This question has been asked numerous times on many forums, and the answer you will mostly get is No! "The plant may grow a new spike from a node on the old spike ". "I never cut flower stalks off unless they turn brown" and "No one cuts the flower spikes plants growing in nature".Not bad advice really, especially if you are a new grower and want to see flowers and gain experience. BUT, If you ask this question of long time orchid growers, you will get a different answer. There are other orchids apart from Phalaenopsis that flower again from the original spike or form keikis on the flower spike. Some species orchids also bloom sequentially. Some specific examples: Doritis pulcherrima x Phal. decumbens. This is a miniature that blooms sequentially and will also form side branches. Plant started flowering in December and was then benched at three Society meetings. Still flowering at the end of March but flowers were getting smaller and there was a long naked spike with many flower scars. So I chopped the spike off at the base and the new leaf that is growing is larger than the existing leaves, so perhaps the next flowering will be even better. Large Standard Pink or White Phalaenopsis. Once the flowers are spent cut the spike off at the base so that the plant can use resources into growing new leaves and produce a better flowering next time. Species Phalaenopsis orchids. Depends on the species. Some flower for years from the same spike and should not be cut. Hybrid Equitant Oncidiums. Cut the spike off. Sure they may throw a side branch but the flowers are always smaller and few in number. Epicattleya Nebo. I left some of the flowering heads on last season. Keikis have grown there that if left will bloom and there will be flower spikes on growths from the top and bottom of the plant. My object is to put this plant in a show so I will cut those top flowering heads off. This advice applies to all reed stem Epidendrums, but if you want the plant as a garden subject the plant should be left to do its thing. Anonymous Long Time orchid Grower The Phal shown in the picture is Phal. Nancy Gordon "Dave's" (Phal. Deventeriana x Phal. venosa), an evergreen spike showing several years of growth. The photo is provided by Charles D. Moulton Image by: Charles D. Moulton Phal. Nancy Gordon "Daves"