question with NoID

[early]

I bought this beauty a month ago, finally took the chance to repot mostly in S/H. Roots are healthy, long and look like a phal. Leaves are very different than any other Phal
pf I own, sorta like Ray once described, on my first Onc, as being part Mule ear. Maybe he later said.

The leaves are all growing vertical, the first stem grows out of what would be the crown in a Phal. second stem, small with two blooms, and grows out of the first stem very close to the leaves, I thought it was a Keiki, but as I look closer, there is another very small leaf up close to the main stem blooms, and it has a stem growing out of that leaf on the stem.

[neophyte]

hi early, can you try re-posting the pic and pointing out what your issue is? it'll be easier to see that way.

[early]

is it a Phal

[aliceinwl]

It’s a Phalaenopsis. It looks like it may have a terminal spike and possibly a keiki or stray leaf on the spike and it’s potted pretty deep: the attachment points of the leaves look to be buried. Potting too deeply can open it up to problems like stem rot. You may want to consider repotting with the substrate only rising to the attachment point of the lowest leaves.

[early]

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

It’s a Phalaenopsis. It looks like it may have a terminal spike and possibly a keiki or stray leaf on the spike and it’s potted pretty deep: the attachment points of the leaves look to be buried. Potting too deeply can open it up to problems like stem rot. You may want to consider repotting with the substrate only rising to the attachment point of the lowest leaves.

thanks Alice.
I bought this orchid as a gift, but find it so different from my other Phals, I am going to keep it. I have never had a Terminal Spike. So I did not know what it was until you pointed me in the right direction to explore. The lower two blooms, I at first thought it was a keiki, but did not know as it has sprung out of the spike and did not have any air roots. I have never had a keiki on another orchid

She will be a learning experience for me As you suggested. I lowered the semi hydro away from the stem. She is quite beautiful with 15 blooms with the two on the Keiki. I will try to take good care of her.

I am very curious about the smaller leaves. that are as small as the leaves with my mini phals, that have much smaller blooms, and the spikes are smaller.

And the leaves are so vertical. Is that common with a terminal spike. I thought it was just because it came in a tight plastic clear wrap. I like this orchid because it is so different

[Ray]

The form of the plant is unusual, and likely unrelated to it growing a terminal spike.

When it finishes blooming, it’s going to sit there, apparently doing nothing for a seemingly long time. Be patient. It will be attempting to redirect its apical meristem (growth front) to a new part of the plant, which can take quite a while.

The new growth is often referred-to as a “basal keiki”, but will likely use the existing root system, so will not be separable.

[early]

Originally Posted by Ray

The form of the plant is unusual, and likely unrelated to it growing a terminal spike.

When it finishes blooming, it’s going to sit there, apparently doing nothing for a seemingly long time. Be patient. It will be attempting to redirect its apical meristem (growth front) to a new part of the plant, which can take quite a while.

The new growth is often referred-to as a “basal keiki”, but will likely use the existing root system, so will not be separable.

Thanks Ray, I thought the same thing about the form, I bought her in Lowes, with three other NoIDs and did not notice how different until I got her home. I am patient. After the blooms drop, I will ask the question about cutting the stem and where. You have given me some great info for new terms to research, like apical meristem. Good thing to do, during this period of isolation,

[WaterWitchin]

I don't normally buy Phals, but have several that were given to me after flowering for their own survival. I did recently buy a Phal Summer Rose 'Blue Star', mostly for the name and also for the bloom. Its leaves are very much more formed like the ones on yours than a regular phal.

It's my understanding it's a cross of Doritaenopsis Kenneth Schubert x equistris. I wonder if the cross you have also has doritaenopsis in it? Or if that's even why the growth pattern of the leaves is similar. I'm just guessing, but I'm sure someone else might be able to answer that.

[early]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

. I did recently buy a Phal Summer Rose 'Blue Star', mostly for the name and also for the bloom. Its leaves are very much more formed like the ones on yours than a regular phal.

It's my understanding it's a cross of Doritaenopsis Kenneth Schubert x equistris. I wonder if the cross you have also has doritaenopsis in it? Or if that's even why the growth pattern of the leaves is similar. I'm just guessing, but I'm sure someone else might be able to answer that.

i looked up your Summer Rose, Blue Star. Oh what a beauty. I may have to get one sometime in the future. Did you order it from a supplier, and was it already blooming? I recently got three seedlings that are suppose to be blue, two Vandas, still tiny but healthy, and a Zygopetalum, which is growing fast and looks healthy.
I have some mini doritaenopsis cross with Phals
and I think one was a equistris with something? that I don't remember. but they are no longer blooming.

[WaterWitchin]

I think it was Hausermann's. It's blooming size, but I didn't buy it in spike. Which is fine by me, as I like to move to SH upon arrival. I'm not a very good caretaker with bark media...perhaps because I don't ever do it anymore. You have to "think" more with other media, and I'm easily distracted. I don't think I've ever bought a seedling anything. Also very impatient. At least I know my strengths and weaknesses. My elder daughter's name was Rose, and Dolly pointed this one out to me. It became a "must have."