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You are here: Experts > Style > Gardening > Orchids > flower stalk so long
Orchids - flower stalk so long
Expert: Wayne King - 10/27/2009
Question
Hi, My question is about a phalaenopsis. I've had it at least four years and it blooms often. Right now the flower stalk is 36 inches long, about 17 flowers have bloomed and died and now I see at least 6 more buds forming. The stalk is so long!!! It sits about four feet from a bay window with south west light.
A second phalaenopsis has a flower stalk starting and I'm wondering if there is a way of keeping it shorter and more compact, the way you see them in stores.
Also the long flower stalk appears to have a new growth about half way up. A branch? Thanks in advance Debbie
Answer
Debbie, it is not uncommon for mature phalaenopsis to have long blooming spikes. It is a function of the species used to produce the hybrid you have. There are hybrids from species that have shorter bloom spikes. As to your plant, you could try adjusting the light level but, I suspect, that will not have an appreciable effect on spike length. A lower light level would result in fewer flowers and the spike would elongate to try to reach more light. Brighter light might produce more and larger flowers and might, possibly, result in shorter spike length. You could try increasing light level after the plant stops flowering so, if there is an effect, it will only be reflected in the next flowering cycle.
It sounds as if the flower spike is going to branch as you suspect. Each node (ie joint) along the flower spike contains meristemmatic tissue capable of generating either a flower spike branch or an entire new plant. Cutting off the flower spike just above any of these nodes will likely cause the node just below the cut to generate a branch which also can produce buds and flower. This is a means of artificially reducing spike length, but the resulting branch could also grow to an appreciable length. Your growing conditions clearly allow this plant to reach its full potential and many phalaenopsis growers would like to have your problem. Congratulations on your success as a phalaenopsis grower.
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