Question
Hey Jim,
I have three pahlaenopis, each of which are doing well and bloomed for months. The flowers on the spikes have fallen off, but the spikes have yet to die back. I was told to cut right before the node of the first flower and if all went well the spike would re-branch and produce new buds. I know that I also must repot but I wanted to know how long it would take for them to set out new buds? and if I repotted the orchids would that encourage them even more. Oh, and I do have one that already had a number of branches, if the orchid produces new buds, where will the buds come in. This is my first time with a phalaenopsis and I just wanted to get a feel for what to expect.

Answer
Hi Jamin,

To begin, unless a phalaenopsis orchid has more than three healthy mature leaves, I would not attempt to get them to produce a second blooming.  But, if they do have three or more good healthy leaves, here is what to do.  

First, check the tip of the spikes to see if it is starting to turn brown, if it is still green or reddish green, leave it alone until it does start to turn brown.  The reason for this is that there are a few phalaenopsis capable of producing blooms on the same spike as it grows longer.  But, if it starts to turn brown, trace back down the spike until you find where the lowest flower had been then go down a little more until you find a node.  Go back up about one to two inches then cut the top of the spike off.  If there was a branch on the spike, go past it and follow directions above.  

New buds will form along the new secondary spike that may grow from one of the nodes left on the spike.  It may be one to two months before you notice a spike growing outward, it will slowly grow for several months with new buds forming from nodes along it.  It may take another month or so before you see flowers.  

Of course, much of the above depends upon your keeping it happy.  You make it happy and it will make you happy - pretty simply huh.  (grin)  

Repotting should be done right after the flowers have all died off and you've cut the spike off.  You can repot with a spike still on it but you need to be careful how you handle it or you might break it off.  

Hope this helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.