What do you do with an orchid flower spike?

After the flowers drop from the orchid you have three choices: leave the flower spike (or stem) intact, cut it back to a node, or remove it entirely. Remove the flower spike entirely by clipping it off at the base of the plant. This is definitely the route to take if the existing stem starts to turn brown or yellow.

What does it mean when orchids are in Spike?

Orchid spike – also known as ‘flower spike’ or ‘stem’ – is the part of the orchid where the flowers and buds grow in. Phalaenopsis orchids grow new spikes once or twice a year. When the spike is done blooming and all the flowers have dried up and fallen off, the spike starts to wither away and die.

What are the shoots coming out of my orchid?

If your orchids are developing crazy-looking tendrils that look a little like tentacles, don’t worry. Your orchid is growing roots, specifically aerial roots – a perfectly normal activity for this unique, epiphytic plant.

How do I force my orchid to bloom?

Help your orchids grow by providing plenty of indirect sunlight. Put your orchid in a cooler spot at night. Cooler nighttime temperatures (55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit) help new flower spikes emerge. When a new spike appears, you can return your orchid to its normal setting.

How do I get my orchid to flower again?

What months do orchids bloom?

Most orchids grow during the summer and bloom in the fall, winter or spring.

What’s the difference between a flower spike and a root on an orchid?

The short reddish growth on the left of the base of the plant is a root, and the growth on the right is a flower spike. You can see that the root on the left is rounder and it has a uniform tip. Normally on most moth orchids, it will probably be light green in color, but in this particular plant it’s reddish.

Is it OK to cut off the spike of an orchid?

Of all of the more commonly available orchids, only Phalaenopsis (the moth orchid) will re-bloom from its old spike. Phalaenopsis will generally re-bloom given a little extra care. When the last flower fades, you can leave the spike (stem) on and it will still continue flowering but the stem gets very ungainly and the flowers get smaller.

When to stake an orchid with new growth?

You should wait to stake a new growth until you see that it is in fact a flower spike and is as tall as the stake itself. Quite often, Phalaenopsis orchids will send up new leaves and new roots shortly before producing a new flower stalk.

Where do you find the new root of an orchid?

And the small green nub you see to the right of the long silvery root is a new root beginning to poke out from the plant stem. New Phalaenopsis roots usually appear with a green tip, and as they grow longer they will become silvery near the base of the plant.