my phal update

[WaterWitchin]

Well, late to the party, but it sure was a fun ride watching that display. Now patience, until the next flourish of blooms.

Agree with Camille, pot is just fine. Some folks cut off old spikes, some folks leave them. I'm of the former group. A couple of reasons for each method... Reasons for cutting: esthetics, not having it branch off and start a new smaller branch of blooms so it puts more energy into growth and a new full spike when it's time. Reasons for not cutting: spike while green is still providing energy source for the plant, hoping it branches again although with a smaller display.

[JScott]

I leave my spent flower spikes on the plant until they die. On a strong, healthy plant, another spray of flowers coming from that old spike wont stress or strain the plant, so this is something that I actually hope for. If you don't get any more blooms, you might get a keiki, which is fun. Some people like to detach them and pot them separately as soon as they have enough roots. I like to lave mine on as long as I can (spray the roots of the keiki with water regularly to keep them hydrated, especially if your humidity is low) Sometimes you can even get a keiki that gets big enough still attached to the mother plant that it produces a flower spike of it's own, which I think looks really cool. Then sometimes the keikis just get too big and the weight of the plant breaks the spike, and I have to pot them separately. But there are lots of ways you can go about this, and none of them is wrong. You do what you feel like you will enjoy the best. If the flower spike turns yellow and dies, then cut it off for sure.

[Bobj.]

Well, here is a vid that can help re the spent spikes; grow more phallies!
How to Make 100 Orchids From One Without Keiki Paste - YouTube
Cheers, Bobj.

[tedro]

Camille, WaterWitchin, BobJ, JScott,

Yes, that was quite the ride! Orchid 1 - Google Photos

Everybody: as you may know, I did get the bonus branch and 22 wonderful blooms all on the one fasciated new/bonus branch.

Since I have a nice new leaf and several new roots ... I’m guessing I won’t see any more new blooms, for a while.
Do “old” spikes reproduce flowers?
Or do they always, when done, beyond bonus, die off?
If they always die off, that’s a consideration for me eventually removing it.

I must say, this twisted little “stick man” phal sure did bring a lot of joy. A real strong prosperous little guy! wow.

I not looking for more at this time, this little pet is quite enough! Perhaps down the road, on day, but he has friends here, so.

BE SAFE! and
Thank you, all 🙏

[tedro]

Hello,

I hope all are well and safe.

I decided to cut the spike. It was difficult.

Since I am no trying to induce anything on the old spike, perhaps I should cut it lower?

attached pics

ps. 2 extra pics: do some roots grow down and some up? (i think yes?)

[Roberta]

It totally doesn't matter. An aesthetic choice.

[tedro]

Originally Posted by Roberta

It totally doesn't matter. An aesthetic choice.

I did it because I think the plant wanted it. Rather than wait for it to brown --maybe it wouldn't?
It's gone root crazy! I think it wants to vegetate awhile, now. then make a new one.
more leaves (i hope, 1 already), more roots (a bunch for sure).
maybe I should have cut lower. done now, i guess.
I felt bad cutting a big healthy part of a part.

[WaterWitchin]

As Roberta says, purely aesthetics. I usually cut the spike closer to the base. Either way is fine. Nice haircut.

Yes, Phals are epiphytes, so it's putting out those roots to try and attach to a tree branch as they do in nature. Aerial roots are very common on epiphytes. Keep your clippers away from those roots.

[tedro]

Thanks!

So, what will happen to the clipped spike? absent it making a keiki, which i doubt (but what do I know!).

[tedro]

Hello!

Maybe this should have been a new thread?

My phal is doing well. But I’m wondering if it’s going to shed more leaves and if that is proper.
My phal was kind of shiny and dark when I got it last fall or maybe it was last winter. But ever since then the leaves have become kind of that matte type (attached pic). The new leaf was shiny at first but it’s slowly becoming the matte.

My phal stays indoors all the time and no open windows or anything like that, and when I go to bed I turn the AC on maximum and it never turns off. So the temperature might get to 68 no lower than 65 for sure overnight.
I’ve been trying to sort of study this whole time how much watering it needs, especially after I repotted using the more solid medium. At first I watered pretty often but now I’m thinking it can kind of go for a while and maybe likes to dry out a bit, I guess. Anyway I think we’re doing fine as far as that goes but it’s much less than I was doing.

My leaves have some black around the edges and maybe a few tips and I began to think that could be overwatering so I slow down and I think that might’ve helped a little. If there was a problem at all.

I am wondering about the lowest leaf below the new leaf it seems to be yellowing slowly, I wonder if this is normal?