AboutWayne King Expertise Any question about orchid culture. I have thirty+ yrs of growing experience,president 2x of our local Orchid Growers Guild,held a position in most all other offices associated with the Guild at one time or another. Head of Orchid judging team for local club meetings and some shows. Member of two Orchid Socities and local Rep.for Mid America Orchid Congress for several yrs.I have in my collection about 800 Orchid plants of all types.
Experience
Past/Present clients Previously an expert on expertcentral.com.
Question A friend gave me an orchid which bloomed beautifully for awhile; however, the center stem turned brown after sometime and (after much hesitancy on my part) I cut it off. It had 2 lovely green leaves and it continued growing (after the stem-cutting incident) until it now has 4 and appears to be healthy. The leaves are very green, no spots, no wilting, etc., but I no longer have a center stem and I haven't had any blooms for over 2 years. Did a make a big booboo by cutting the center stem? Beverly
Answer Beverly, if by the "center stem" you are referring to the old flower spike, cutting it off is fine. I'm assuming you have a phalaenopsis orchid. The old flower spike on some phals will remain green, while others will turn brown and die back. A green old flower spike can rebloom under the right circumstances, but, usually phalaenopsis rebloom from the base or center of the plant.
If you removed the old flower spike, that should have no bearing on the failure of the plant to rebloom. If the leaves are a rich, dark green that could be a sign that the plant is not receiving sufficient light for blooming. It should be grown indoors-- preferably in an east window where it receives some morning sunlight. You also could try a bloom booster plant food. The increased light levels should result in leaves that are a more yellow-green.
It is likely that failure to bloom is a blessing in disguise. By not blooming, the plant has grown more leaves which it should have to support future blooming. I should not want a plant with only two leaves to expend its energy on flowering when it needs that energy to grow stronger-- which yours has done.
