Question
Hello. I have a Phalaenopsis orchid that, at this point in time has 15 flowers. The one spike branched out to give me this total and now there are at least 4 new flower buds occurring on the spike and its spike. Wow. How do I give this  spike some support? Is this number of flowers unusual?
Thanks for any help.
Susan

Answer
Hello Susan,

To support the blooming spike, you can use a slender bamboo stake pushed into the pot and tie the spike to it every 6 inches or so.  When you do this, make sure it is nice and warm with temperatures above 65F.  The reason for this is that the spike may be a little brittle when cold, you don't want to break it off!  Also, don't try to bend the spike up too suddenly or at too sharp and angle for the same reason.  

Your phalaenopsis is pretty floriferous but the most flowers I've seen and heard about was 30 flowers on a single spike with no branching, just one single solitary spike that was over 4 feet tall.  Really impressive to see.  

Hope this helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.