Flower Spike Stopped Growing - Orchid Board

Just Rosie · #1 01-12-2020, 01:11 PM

Hey guys!
I have a mini phal (no further info on it) that I purchased about 3-4 weeks ago. It was in bloom when I had purchased it, but it also had a 3rd spike that was about 3-4 inches long. No buds had formed yet. I brought this orchid under artificial light with almost no natural light. After maybe a week and a half, blooms began to die away. Then, from one of the “nodes” of the blooms (forgive my terminology) a new “spike” (?) began to emerge.
So the new spike is doing great, forming buds, etc. But the old spike has not grown any, it’s just at a standstill. Still green and viable.
I have read a couple of threads, and some say leave it, some say repot. I will admit that I should repot because the medium is not draining fast enough and the top will grow a layer of mold. So it COULD use a repot, but I was waiting until flowers are exhausted.
Now that I have the new spike, I’m extra unsure. What do you guys think? What would you do?
Thanks for the help and sorry for the lengthy explanation!

Roberta · #2 01-12-2020, 01:19 PM

Phals don't usually mind when potted in spike or bloom. Just be gentle so that these don't get bumped around. But even if it costs a blooming, repotting is in order - the medium is going to be a root-killer if it isn't already. (Most newly acquired plants are like that, it blooms it gets sold - the stress of bad medium probably helped inspire the blooms as a hedge against death) Particularly with Phals, whose flowers develop slowly and can last months, much better to repot when it needs it for the long-term health of the plant.

Veksa · #3 01-12-2020, 01:21 PM

Hi. If you do not like the media then repot, it may not affect flowering. Even if it will, it should flower again after some time.

Just Rosie · #4 01-12-2020, 08:19 PM

Thanks guys, I went ahead and repotted it, along with another mini phal that was in the same media (peat moss I think). The roots actually looked pretty good, some brown, dried ends that I pruned away. I’m happy I did it, even if I lose the spikes/blooms. They are now seated better and I don’t have to worry about the moldy topsoil!