Damaged Phalaenopsis has grown new side shoot

[JP020366]

Hi all

New to Orchidboard. Hope I can explain myself well enough.

About 6 months ago I put some phalaenopsis in the sun (for a short time only) and unfortunately burnt them. One in particular have severely damaged leaves. I think the crown got burnt and may be 'dead' as no new leaves have attempted to grow.

Since then I have cared for them particularly well...maybe too well.

Anyway, about one month ago noticed some growth on the side and eventually it looks like a new plant. It wasn't a new root nor a flower spike. See the photos attached. You can see a large part of one main leaf has been cut off (the blackened edge is visible).

Any idea what the plant is trying to do? Will the larger plant die? Is this a new growth which may be grown separately later?

Any help appreciated.

John

[lambelkip]

leave the new growth attached. the old growth will eventually lose its leaves, but the roots will continue to bring in nutrients to help the new plant grow.

[orchidbingo]

Welcome to OB!

The new plant is a keiki (baby), but as Kip says above it should stay attached for now. When the terminal/ apical bud was destroyed it stopped producing the plant hormones that normally supress the lateral buds of monopodial (single stem) plants.

BTW this thread is very much on topic so you might want to repost elsewhere. You will get more replies that way.

goodluck

bingo

[JP020366]

Hi

Thanks for your comments.

Bingo, I posted in this Topic in error. first one for me so learnt something.

Sure there will be other issues soon.

Cheers

John

[Oscarman]

Hi John, welcome to the OB!

Your plant may surprise you and continue growing with two leads. Eventually the new 'baby' growth wil form roots and could be seperated. Give it lots of time.

This thread has now been moved to Beginner Discussion.

[RosieC]

As Bingo said, when the crown is damaged a Phal will sometimes start a 'basil keiki', or baby. (Bingo puts it far more sientifically than me, I can never remember all those scientific names.)

I agree with everyone else that the two should be left together. The leaves of the parent may eventually die off, but while it is alive the mother will help sustain the baby.

[orchidbingo]

Originally Posted by RosieC

As Bingo said, when the crown is damaged a Phal will sometimes start a 'basil keiki', or baby. (Bingo puts it far more sientifically than me, I can never remember all those scientific names.)

It's not always a good thing when I put things scientifically. It's just that I've been a scientist for soooo many decades that I sometimes forget how to speak English

I always have to rack my brains to find apt analogies in the real world so my freshman don't keel over from boredom or shock!

bingo

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by orchidbingo

It's not always a good thing when I put things scientifically. It's just that I've been a scientist for soooo many decades that I sometimes forget how to speak English

I always have to rack my brains to find apt analogies in the real world so my freshman don't keel over from boredom or shock!

bingo

I actually love the scientific description. I have masters degree in Physics although I've not used it in the last 12 years (I'm in computers now).

Anyway, while biology was never my area of science I still find that hearing the scientific description of how these things work is something I am really interested in.

I loved your description of all this apical meristem stuff and hormones when I asked the question about the difference between monopodial and sympodial last month. I just can never remember the correct words. (My science teacher when I was about 14 used to complain at me for using the word 'stuff' in my scientific write ups )