I accidentally cut my orchid's stem of buds off - now what?!?

Tonight the temperatures outside were supposed to get to 42 degrees, and my phalenopsis hybrid has put out a beautiful stem of buds that haven't blossomed yet, so I decided to protect the orchid. When I went to cover it, the stem snapped clean off!!! AUGH!!! I am so depressed because this is the first time I've actually kept an orchid alive long enough for it to rebloom. So what do I do now? If I keep the blossoming stem in water with some feed, will it bloom? Or should I give up and start banging my head into the wall? Also, the only reason I was going to cover the orchid was because I heard that they'll drop their buds if they're not protected in a cold snap. Was that even true, or did I sacrifice my little beauty for nothing?

I accidentally cut my orchid's stem of buds off - now what?!?
STOP!!! Don't touch the remaining stem! If you leave the bloom stem intact (attached to the plant), it will usually continue blooming from one of the remaining joints of the stem. It will take a week or two, but it will bloom from that part too.





I buy spent-bloom phalaenopsis orchids from hardware stores at a discount (reg $21.99, down to $5) when they can't sell them because their blooms have died after about 2 weeks. If you leave the bloom stems intact...they invariably bloom a second time from a joint in the stem.





P.S. Not sure why you have a phalaenopsis outside. They really belong indoors in bright light.
Reply:I can't say what would happen with your orchid but this is what I do. Dip the broken piece in root hormone stick it back evenly where it broke off and use gauze to bind it back on and make a thin stick splint to help it stay. I use skewers (wooden) or chopsticks. Just make sure it is well supported and keep the area moist.
Reply:I think that you have some good recommendations here on how to save your buds.





HOWEVER, if you do not bring your plant indoors it will die!!!





Phalenopsis are INDOOR plants - at least fall, winter, spring!!!





Good Luck!!
Reply:Here is a tip for next time:





If it is a little snap next time don't break it, bandage it with gauze (use a tiny tiny piece, and spray water on gauze for a month so it is healed. My orchid's stem was saved once this way.





A tip for current situation:





When the stem is broken off the main plant, make sure to make a new cutting off above the stem above the last node on it, so it can grew itself back and blossom next year, leaving the stem as long as possible for phalaenopsis. If the stem stays, it will bloom only for phalaenopsis, from the same stem.





Blooming Orchids:





For orchids to blossom, you need to have orchid food, and perfect light, humidity, and air conditions. Make sure it gets enough light but not direct sun; keep it misted if you live in dry zone, and maintain root air by cutting the dead roots. You can check online orchid website to learn how to trim roots once or twice a year. Also you need to feed them with orchid food; and make sure they are not under direct wind.





Blooming Stem:





Keep the blooming stem in water, so you can enjoy the blooms for couple of weeks.





Covering for winter:





Instead of covering with plastic next time, which is tricky to get around without hurting your orchid, next time cover with a big pickle jar... :) And open when direct sunlight is on it so it does not burn... For air, make sure to put a toothpick under the rim of the pickle jar.