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You are here: Experts > Style > Gardening > Orchids > phaleonopsis orchid
Expert: Jim Kawasaki
Date: 9/1/2008
Subject: phaleonopsis orchid
Question
I received mine as a gift, and the last of 4 blooms has just fallen off. I also have 5 spikes growing from the base of the plant. Your previous answer is the first I've seen that tells me what I should be doing now - if I do cut back the spike, should I be putting something on the cut end to prevent any type of infection? Can all these spikes stay in the same pot?
Answer
Hello Jan,
Are they really new spikes or are they new roots? If they are green or reddish green in color they probably are spikes but if they are mostly grey to greyish-white with a small green tip they are new roots. Hopefully they are all spikes! But if they are roots, you can try to gently direct them downward into the pot.
When you cut off a spike you can put a little powdered cinnamon (the same that you use for baking) on the cut. Cinnamon has some mild anti bacterial and fungicidal properties that can prevent an infection.
Hope this has helped.
Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.
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