---
title: "Friends, do you recommend I wait until the flower stalks are dried…"
description: "Friends, do you recommend I wait until the flower stalks are dried and brown before cutting them off or is it OK to remove it after the last flower drops? The…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/E8JxIkfRkucuBE8hMjbA9m"
community: "The Orchid Oasis"
author: "Amy"
published: "2026-06-19T22:35:49.822191Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/lWTjWGwwun1muSeAQxsoBCK67Od3_D1F554RFf3AQ7o/eqyHCvuISG-94Ji0LkRr3w.webp?size=large"
---

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# Friends, do you recommend I wait until the flower stalks are dried…

_Posted by Amy on 2026-06-19_

Friends, do you recommend I wait until the flower stalks are dried and brown before cutting them off or is it OK to remove it after the last flower drops? The stalk is a pencil diameter thick at the base. My thought is if I leave it, the plant will continue to “feed” the old flower stalk. But maybe if I leave it and wait until it’s dried the plant could also “recycle” the nutrients in the stalk. Maybe this is all crazy talk 🤪  
What do you recommend?

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/lWTjWGwwun1muSeAQxsoBCK67Od3_D1F554RFf3AQ7o/eqyHCvuISG-94Ji0LkRr3w.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/lWTjWGwwun1muSeAQxsoBCK67Od3_D1F554RFf3AQ7o/5ZLpo_KIQQWGz4v2vUcn6A.webp?size=large)

## 2 comments

### Jen commented on 2026-06-20

At this point, either option is totally fine. The orchid WILL continue to put energy into any flower spike. So I always let the wellness of the plant guide my decisions. They put a TON of energy into a flower spike, and can start to look a bit weary, (more limp leaves, more wrinkled pseudobulbs, or just slower growth of more vital structures like roots.)

I tend to err on the side of overall plant health and cut spikes completely down to the base when they’ve basically run their course. I do this with all my types- even phalaenopsis, which I know, I know, some people keep forever- hoping for a second flush of flowers. I’d rather that the plant use its resources to get bigger, stronger, and they’ve generally rewarded me with more and bigger bloom shows. 🙂

### Amy commented on 2026-06-20

Thank you. The flower spike was huge and the plant does look less perky than it did before- bulbs a bit wrinkly and leaves droopy). The plant is attempting to grow a new bulb but it’s not very plump. Thank you for your advice. I think I’ll cut the spike off so that the plant can start to recover and hopefully bloom next year 🌸🌺🌻

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