Phalaenopsis flower spike growing into/stuck in leaf - Orchid Board

Johnv · #1 01-01-2025, 05:30 PM

Hello all,

New to this forum - name is John and live in S. Arizona. My partner has been into orchids since we moved into our new house 3+ years ago and we got a Phalaenopsis as a house warming gift. Since that time, my gf has rescued three other sad Phalaenopses (reduced for quickie - LOL). last winter we had a great year with all four plants flowering! What a blast that was.

Three of our 4 plants are sending off flower spikes but there is an issue with one of them and I am wondering if we should do anything or let it go it's own course. For some reason the stalk started to grow towards the base of one leaf, and it has split a crack in that leaf, and is trying to grow through that, but it is really twisted (See photo in links below). I am afraid that it won't make it, but I don't think it would be good to cut one half the leaf at the base to give the stalk more room to maneuver. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

---------- Post added at 02:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:27 PM ----------

Not sure why the links didn't post:

Flickr

Flickr

Louis_W · #2 01-01-2025, 08:08 PM

I have one doing the same thing but the spike has continued to grow normally. I'd just leave it and see what happens. I have broken a lot of growths and spikes trying to fix them. Better to just let the plant deal with it.

estación seca · #3 01-02-2025, 03:36 AM

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Don't know how far south you are - look up the Tucson Orchid Society. Everybody there is very friendly.

FranningtonBear · #4 01-02-2025, 07:56 AM

welcome. You're already finding how addictive orchids are, now you've joined us on OB I bet your collection will grow rapidly

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis_W

I have one doing the same thing but the spike has continued to grow normally. I'd just leave it and see what happens. I have broken a lot of growths and spikes trying to fix them. Better to just let the plant deal with it.

I second this, I have also broken a spike in the past trying to "help" it. Now I let the plant get on with it and have had a couple of Phals grow spikes through their leaves, it's never harmed the leave more than a small split either.

As a general rule, although there are exceptions, when it comes to orchids try to avoid cutting anything!

Paphluvr · #5 01-02-2025, 09:19 AM

No good will come from trying to “help” it. It will either figure out a way to develop on its own or it will snap on its own, no intervention needed. Hopefully it will do the former.