I have a Phalaenopsis orchid. Which part of the plant do i cut after it blooms?

Okay, so I bought this orchid last summer I think and it was in bloom. It's been bare ever since and my boyfriend thinks its dead but it's a phalaenopsis orchid, so is it only supposed to be in bloom once a year? I read that I should cut the stem right below the first flower on the spray. Where exactly is this? Do I just cut the tip of the plant (only make one cut) or do I cut wherever there are little buds where the flowers have bloomed?

I have a Phalaenopsis orchid. Which part of the plant do i cut after it blooms?
Phaleanopsis orchids will often re-bloom from the same flower spike. After the initial blooming you should cut the spike about halfway back, just above one of the nodes. You should see new blooms within 8-12 weeks.





Cut the spike off entirely by mid-summer to allow your plant to regain it's strength for next year’s blooms.





Seal the cut with melted candle wax or a dusting of cinnamon powder (a natural fungicide) to prevent bacterial infection.





Hope that helps!
Reply:Actually I was just researching this as well as my orchid just lost its last flower. Apparently these are the only variety that can bloom again from the same spot, so I'm leaving mine for awhile to see if it does anything. But supposedly with this variety, you don't cut all the way down to the bottom, just below the first flower as you had mentioned. Then I guess once a year or so you cut it right down to the bottom.


You could definitely google it and get some good tips.
Reply:once the flowers have bloomed, and they have fallen, cut that one stem at the base of the plant, cut it as far down as possible as that stem will not grow again, hopefully, with good sunlight and water, food, a new stem will grow again next year, they usually bloom once a year, spingtime.