Question
QUESTION: I have an orchid that keeps sprouting new "branches" from the main stem.  After the current blooms die, is it possible to cut back the main stem to the base and begin to grow a new main stem ?

ANSWER: Hello Ken,

You didn't mention what kind of orchid you have so I am unable to tell you what to do with it.  If you could write back with the name, I may be able to help you with it.  Is there a tag with the name on it in the pot?  

Sorry I couldn't be of more help at this time.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jim,

All I know is that it is white in color and we received it as a gift.  I would say it is a common household orchid.  I have no further identification. Is it not possible to cut all orchids back??

Ken

ANSWER: Hi Ken,

The most common orchid most people receive as gifts are phalaenopsis orchids.  If yours has leaves that are somewhat oval in shape and are rather thick and they alternate from one side to the other along the main stem.  

I just had a thought flash through my head as I was composing this response.  I may have misunderstood you when you said the main stem was producing branches with flowers.  If this stem (spike) grew upward from the central growth and produced flowers near the top, then when those flowers died off, a new stem grew outward off the side of the stem down lower, this could be a phalaenopsis orchid as many of them are capable of doing this as long as the spike remains alive.  

If all of the above is true, what you have is likely a phalaenopsis.  

Once the current flowers are gone, you may cut the spike off about an inch from the bottom.  It probably is a little late in the bloom season for it to grow a new spike but hopefully it will.  

For most orchids, it is best to cut off the flower spike after the flowers have all died off.  There are some orchids that will produce flowers on the same spike over several years, you can tell if yours will do this by watching the spike tip, if it remains alive it may produce flowers next season.  But, if the tip begins to die back and turn brown, cut the spike off.  

Hope this helped.  Let me know if my guess was correct, but if I'm wrong, can you write back with a description of the plant parts and I may be able to make a better guess as to what it is.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: From your description, I have a phalaenopsis orchid.  The current blooms are the result of two new spikes that grew from two spikes that previously had flowers [ I didn't know that I was to cut them off]  If you agree, I think that after the current blooms die, I will cut the original spike off at the bottom and hopefully grow a new spike.

Ken

Answer
Hi Ken,

Yes, go ahead and cut the spike off once the current blooms fall off.  There are several reasons for doing this but the primary reason is to allow the phalaenopsis plant to rest and recuperate from producing blooms which takes quite a bit of the energy and resources from the plant.  An example I've used in responses to some questions similar to yours is a woman who gives birth and immediately becomes pregnant again with very little time between for her body to recuperate.  

I've suggested a procedure to some persons by which they can get their phalaenopsis to do what yours has done, produce a secondary blooming off the original spike.  But I qualify this by saying to only do this if the plant has a minimum of four healthy mature leaves and is growing well.  

While your phalaenopsis may or may not make a new spike right away, it should do so next bloom season.  Keep up the good work.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.