Phal crown keiki/split

[Kittyfrex]

About two-ish or three months ago, this one made a basal keiki. Then it made a tiny leaf on the top, like super small. Next came two crowns that are even showing first root tips.

I'm not sure what to make of it; is this something that happens often or...?

[Arizona Jeanie]

I think it is something that doesn't happen very often. I would guess that the growing tip was damaged or broken, but the plant wasn't ready to call it quits, so woke up more than one sleeping node at the top.
I've had basal keikis and stem keikis and flower spike keikis, but have never seen one looking like this!
Maybe some more expert growers have a better explanation?
It's interesting, can you post updated pictures as it develops? The plant looks basically healthy, it just popped out an odd growth.

[Mountaineer370]

Like Arizona Jeanie, I have not seen anything quite like this in my ten years or so of growing Phals, but I don't think it's anything to be concerned about. The plant looks healthy. Please post pics as it progresses!

And maybe some members here with far more experience than me will chime in.

[Roberta]

Orchids want to live, and especially the monopodial ones that have one main growth point have all sorts of strategies if that one (the crown) gets damaged. So, you may end up with a nice clump of plant, that could eventually bloom from all the "pups". Sit back and watch the show.

[Kittyfrex]

I wasn't particularly worried to be fair, as the plant is otherwise healthy. Had some root setback after branching its original spike, but nothing to write home about.
When a basal keiki poped out, i was tough the plant was making a backup plan as there was also a tiny leaf sprouting. I just never expected the leaf at the top to be like an euro coin before producing more growth that seemed like a lump of some sorts as the new "leaf" poped up.

There's no particular progress to report, baring that all 3 keikis have started producing roots on their own. Still only about 1 cm in length, but we went out of their more rapid season of growth.

All in all, i am not fusing over it, it isn't as if i can change much. The plant(s) get the same care as all my other phals (i belive 15+). Out of them all, there are four plants that won't bloom and for the first time, it has nothing to o with me or my care, but the state of their arrival (or in one case, randomly making two terminal spikes on one crown, one after another).
So since all those other, spiking, big plants confirm it's not care related, and i see less than 0 pests, rot or damage, its out of my hands and i will enjoy this oddball for as long as i have it.

P.s. this is the second time this year a phal of mine did something uncommon. The first was the aforementioned double terminal spike. Should this be consiered lucky or unlucky?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Kittyfrex

P.s. this is the second time this year a phal of mine did something uncommon. The first was the aforementioned double terminal spike. Should this be consiered lucky or unlucky?

Lucky or unlucky or random? Still a small sample, n=2. And correlation does not necessarily imply causation, of course.

[Kittyfrex]

I wasn't..well...it was meant to be a joke hahahaa. From what i get, both things are uncommon or rarer (no mater what i google for, i get no results for either a double crown keiki or double seqenced terminal spikes).

More like... Am I unlucky to get both things that, obviously, slow down the plant, or am I so lucky to witness it just like that i should consider lotery.

Again, i might be wrong on the rarity of the events, but unless i get some more sources, uncommon/rarer is what it is.

[Dimples]

I think you’re lucky. I love Franken-plants. Watching the unusual is often more interesting. Please keep us updated!