What part of an orchid is the spike?

What part of an orchid is the 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 is a node on an orchid spike?

An orchid node is a triangular growth nodule, forming an elevated budge on the flower spike where new growth can occur. New stems, buds, or flower spikes may develop from older orchid nodes.

How do I get my orchid to branch?

To get a new orchid flower spike, place the plant in an area with a lower room temp — about 55–65°F at night should do it. Placing your orchid in a window away from the heater might work, too. We’ve had best success getting new flower spikes in winter, when our homes and their windows aren’t as warm.

Should you trim orchid stems?

Do you trim orchid stems? You should trim the stem of a phalaenopsis orchid after blooming has finished. Trim your orchid just above the node on the stem directly below where the first flower bloomed. This will increase the chance of another cycle of blooming from the same flower spike.

How do I get my orchid to grow a new stem?

How To Ensure That Your Orchid Will Grow a New Stem

1. Give it enough water, but you should allow it to dry out completely before the next watering.
2. Make sure that it is in a room with around 50 to 70% humidity.
3. Fertilize your orchids weekly if there are new growths, then taper off as the plant matures.

When should I cut the spike off my orchid?

Cut Back the Orchid Flower Spike 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. Withered stems won’t produce flowers.

How do I get my orchid to grow a new spike?

To give the orchid a fresh, strong start, trim the flower stalk 2 nodes up from the base, or at the base. A new flower spike has not yet started to grow. Give it time and I’m confident we will see a new spike emerge. A new flower spike has begun to grow.

What are the brown spots on the stalk of an orchid?

The main flower stalk will have some bumpy brownish spots, called nodes. Node are the “signs” or “scars” left on the stalk where flowers once were. In monopodial orchids, there is only one flower stalk, called raceme, and all buds emerge from it.

Which orchids grow upward from one stem?

Monopodial orchids like phalaenopsis and vandas grow upward from a single stem. Orchids with this growth habit grow upwardfrom season to season from a single vegetative shoot. Leaves, roots and flower spikes sprout from nodes along the stem.

Do all orchids bloom from the same stalk?

All other orchids will bloom again, but not from the same stalk. All other orchids can be trimmed at the base of the flower stalk. There is one more point I want to be really clear about: Just trim the flower stalk, not the pseudobulbs.