Question
i am a new orchid plant owner having purchased two Phalaenopsis. After the blooms have died, I am to cut the spikes - please explain where and what are the spikes; not the stems that the recent blooms were on??  Thanks

Answer
Elaine, the spikes are the stemlike growths from which the flower buds emerge and open. They originate from the base of the plant and may branch before producing flowers.  The flower spike has joints (called nodes) and you may cut off the flower spike just above a node.  On some phalaenopsis, the flower spike does not remain green but dies back. After flowering, you should consider repotting the plant in fresh orchid potting mix.