Question
Hi Jim,
I'm hoping you can help me "cure" my phalaenopsis orchid...
I've had the plant for about a year and a half and it has rebloomed once since I've had it.  I cut the flower stem about one inch below the last flower but the stem started turning brown.  I cut it once again in hopes of revitalizing it but the brown just keeps inching it's way down!
The plant has 5 fairly broad leaves  and they are dark green.  The stem is about 10 inches tall and one quarter of that is brown.
Do you have any tips for me?  Thanks so much!
With appreciation,
Allyson Hays

Answer
Hello Allyson,

It just may be that the spike is not willing to produce a secondary spike off it.  

Try going further down the spike and look for a growth node, it will look like a bump.  Go up about an inch then cut the spike.  If all goes well, an offshoot spike will emerge in a month or two.  Hope this works!!!  If not, I'd say cut the rest of the spike off and wait until next year.  

Hope this helps.  Good luck.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.