Hi! I'm an orchid novice at best but I've recently joined the forum in hopes of learning about what's going on with one of my phalaenopsis plants. About 2 months ago (around August) the phal in question grew 2 flower spikes and as they developed, green leaf like growth emerged instead of the flower buds I expected. I've attached a photo. They haven't changed in several weeks and I'm wondering if anyone could share with me what these are and how to proceed with the plant. The orchid seems healthy otherwise and has recently started growing a third flower spike. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
It seems like it can’t decide if it wants to make a bud or a keiki (new plantlet). I’d just leave it alone and see what develops over the coming months. If they do end up becoming keikis, you can remove them and pot them up once they form roots that are at least a couple of inches in length.
Sometimes they just "get their freak on" for a little while and then go back to normal, especially of overdosed with hormones.
Some plants are predestined to create lots of keikies based upon their genetics, with the flower/keiki ratio shifting to the latter if given improper culture.
I agree. Both of those growths look unusual, with the taller one looking maybe like some small deformed leaves? It's hard to tell from just that one angle. In any event, the plant looks very healthy from what I can see, and if it were mine, I would just continue caring for it normally and let it do what it wants to do, at least for the time being.
Wow, thanks for all the advice! This is a plant I bought at the grocery store over a year ago but it's been doing well and flowering regularly. I'm not sure of the hybrid. I missed a couple of waterings around the time the flower spikes got to the height in the photo, so perhaps it's possible that that's what shocked it. I'll keep regular care as suggested and will let you know what happens. Thank you again.