Phalaenopsis experiment : to chop or not to chop spent green flower spikes!!?? The results are in!

Yes Plant Lovers - in June I began an experiment with a Phalaenopsis that had sent out a secondary flower spike from a spent but still green old spike! Now usually I'd chop a spent flower spike regardless of whether it was green or dying back as soon as the last flower drops. So this was an experiment to see if I left the orchid to do what it wanted and re-bloom, would the flowers be less vigorous? I also had a plant in fresh spike and a plant with a dead spike I was cutting. Well, the universe conspired to bring the experiment to a premature end ...... but the results are in!
If you want to watch the original video you can here:
• Phalaenopsis orchids: ...

[@Lucysroses]

Hello, I am enjoying your channel. I always let the orchids tell me what they want . I have an orchid that developed multiple spikes and seems it’s always mostly in flower. I also have one I threw out . Was in garbage for 35 seconds. I quickly fished it out and apologized to it. Three months later it developed a spike . It now flowers twice a year . Lol true story .

[@helloplantlovers]

Everyone responds to a good apology!!!!

[@Lucysroses]

Lmao !!!!

[@annechenchar7601]

Super great experiment! I didn’t cut a green spike and I got a Keiki from it! After a few months, Once I cut the baby off, it started budding from the end and shot out another spike from a lower node! The baby also is producing a spike. So you never know what’s in store

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh what a great story! True: watch and wait and see what happens!

[@andreianifourcault2245]

Your plants are fantastique with huge leaves !!! I used to cut the spikes but a plante productor from Germany just told us at an expo not to cut them. In nature nobody cuts them and especially the yellow flower plants that don't like this at all...

[@helloplantlovers]

Yes! My new mantra is 'let the orchid do what it wants!' Thanks for watching!

[@charmainebroadbent7001]

Hello Matthew, I just wanted to let you know that I so look forward to hearing what you have to talk about every week. I have just started my journey (addiction) with orchids, although I did grow up with my great aunts, my nanna and my mum growing hundreds of cymbidiums. Thank you for your helpful tips and tricks with these beautiful plants.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for finding me! Yes! I think cymbidiums were definitely the 'gateway' orchid in Australia prior to Phalaenopsis becoming ubiquitous! I love seeing them on the verandas in older gardens just doing their thing COVERED in flower spikes in spring!

[@wandashaw3551]

I normally do the same as you were doing and cut the spike, but after seeing your experiment, I'm going to give it a try just to see what happens! 😍😍

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching and why not! You can always trim it off if nothing happens!

[@sunnymelbourneplants]

Cool experiment 👍 I usually cut my flower spikes as soon as the last flower goes down for the same reason. It's a 50/50 chance that it will produce a secondary spike. I cut it to promote vegetative growth and focus the energy of the orchid for better blooms the following year as flowers take a lot of energy from the orchid. So nice to see what they decide to do though 😂

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - I'll be interested to see if I get new leaves on the re-blooming one!

[@napaw4239]

very informative! But I can't even get mine to bloom in the first place... 😅

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh no! The temperature drop in autumn is vital to get them to spike - that could be a reason? Good luck though!

[@BlackCat-fr4ue]

Revisit 2 years on. Reporting 2 spikes with masses of buds on each plus one new spike. 2 new plants that grew from the original stem have not produced any new spikes but keep growing, maybe next years update will report these in bud? Any update on yours?

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for re-visiting! The star of this video has just finished flowering from a new spike which I think is going to re-bloom from the end.

[@edwardgyu7990]

Could you please please talk about your clear pot technique? ❤❤

[@helloplantlovers]

I do - check out my other Phalaenopsis videos: kzbin.info/aero/PLXVNKHj1A0dTgbCZCVJCMXEnrjrzMpEPf

[@yurisilver4707]

Very nice videos, similar situation here in NY on the windowsill, what’s your advice to enhance the root system. Using a mix media chips and a little moss. Seems to dry out pretty quickly in a ventilated pot. My root system is not exploding as I would like. Any advice, thanks.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! Hmm...NY heating can be so drying...you could change to a non ventilated pot with more moss - just a regular pot with drainage holes? And try a dash of mycorrhizal fungus powder in the mix which will promote root growth. But it is all relative - if the plant is happy and healthy then the roots are doing their job. Good luck!

[@BlackCat-fr4ue]

Time to revisit this. 8 months one and time for a update. I have a mass of blooms from the existing spikes with more on the way from this years spikes. How is yours fairing?

[@helloplantlovers]

Aha! Well remembered! All the existing spikes have produced new huge blooms - but no new spikes - which is a tiny disappointment!

[@strzbowhunter6409]

Love your channel! Keep it up❤

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you and thanks for finding me!

[@krisbicton7777]

Hi matthew, i am quiet supprised you have the phalanopsis orchids growing in containers with no drain holes. I have had a lot of these orchids develop root rot in clear pots with good air circulation. After loosing lots of these orchids, i am going to try again. Any suggestions?

[@helloplantlovers]

I know - it's counter intuitive! Seems to work for me. I think the trick is to keep the vessel out of any direct light, go REALLY light on watering and don't pack the moss too tight. You can clearly see if the moss is moist at the base and you should never be able to see any pooling water at the bottom. Good luck!

[@dihan7574]

Wow how do you get such big leaves and huge flowers I can never achieve this What is the secret please

[@breafisher3706]

Very interesting!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@ninav5417]

I've been of the always cut off the spikes after flowering camp. But hmmm..I'll try some leaving them. Are you finding that they still grow new leaves necessary for new spikes? Mine usually spike after they have 4 leaves above the old spike.. FYI I live in very very northern Minnesota USA about zone 2, plants go to unheated greenhouses for our brief summers. A designated plant room with grow lights for the rest of the year.. see you also have houseplants. I am now getting those as well as orchids..oh dear..oh why not. Enjoy you vids.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! Yes I found it interesting too...and really for me the essence was the orchid will tell you what it wants! Yes, there is that minimum leaf requirement of four leaf axils before you'll get a spike, and interesting question about new leaves because my re-blooming from a old spike plant has NO new leaves forming whilst all my others do. That will be something to continue to observe! And it's spring so new vegetative growth is happening. As to other plants....why not indeed!!! Think of all that clean air you'll be enjoying!

[@besottedorchids3605]

Is there a way I could send you a pic of my kriptonite orchid? I'd like your opinion on whether or not they r spikes

[@helloplantlovers]

You'll be able to tell really quickly: a new growth with have visible furled leaves even when its still quite small and will be coming up from just below the level of the soil. A flower spike will emerge from the very base of the bulb just above the soil level.

[@besottedorchids3605]

@@helloplantlovers then we have spikes! Yay

[@helloplantlovers]

@@besottedorchids3605 Hurrah!