Dear Orchid Doc:

Do I cut the spike back when my orchid is finished blooming?

Carla

Dear Carla:

This is a very common question that really depends on what type of orchid you have. In general, once orchids are finished blooming you can remove the spike with scissors. If you do not remove the spike, the flower spike will dry up and turn brown over time. There are some orchids that can rebloom off the same flower spike more than once.

Certain species of Oncidium such as the Papilio can bloom off a broken or cut-back spike. The most commonly reblooming flower spike is that of the Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid). If your Phalaenopsis is of mature size such as 12” or more in leaf-span, cut it halfway back just above one of the nodes (the little notches on the flower spike). It should branch out in 90-120 days with a new spike. Generally we recommend trying this only once per flower spike. Trying it a second or third time will result in less flowers. Cutting the flower spike completely off will give the plant more energy in order to produce a new flower spike with more flowers.