Flower spike coming out of crown

[CTB]

Does anyone have a pic of a term spike?

[sweetjblue]

Pic of a terminal spike just starting.

[CTB]

Good Pic, what does terminal spike mean? Thanks

[RosieC]

A terminal spike is a spike out the center of a Phal. Once one has formed the Phal will no longer grow new leaves from the crown, so unless it grows a keiki of some sort it will eventually die.

[trdyl]

Hello Carol.

A terminal spike means that the crown will no longer grow any more leaves. The good news is as long as it is healthy it will usually form a new crown in the form of a basal keiki.

[CTB]

kinda like signing your own death warrant. Kind of sad. Thanks

[bbs]

I wouldn't be so sad... one of my phals had a terminal spike when I bought it over a year ago, and it's the best flowerer I have. The fact that it won't grow any more leaves doesn't appear to affect it's happyness none of the leaves show any signs of yellow, the root system is great, the phal has produced SIX more 50cm+ spikes on the plant itself, every one with several branches, the terminal spike has 3 branches from the little leaf it has and so on... if this is it's final effort (it has been flowering with a minimum of 5 blooms for 15 months now) it's going out with a bang and loving it

[bbs]

hi, just updating my last post.. the phal is STILL blooming.. it has so far had a minimum of five blooms and at best times going up to 50 strong.. one new spike and several branches since last time and no yellow leaves.. the root system, however, has gone crazy. I don't have the heart to repot it, because it seems to love the tight space it is in.

and as to why i'm writing - it has a baby a new plant from the base (a keiki maybe, but too young to repot) with two leaves so far, the mother plant is showing no signs of getting tired.. as for me, i'd go for another plant with a terminal spike anytime

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by bbs

hi, just updating my last post.. the phal is STILL blooming.. it has so far had a minimum of five blooms and at best times going up to 50 strong.. one new spike and several branches since last time and no yellow leaves.. the root system, however, has gone crazy. I don't have the heart to repot it, because it seems to love the tight space it is in.

and as to why i'm writing - it has a baby a new plant from the base (a keiki maybe, but too young to repot) with two leaves so far, the mother plant is showing no signs of getting tired.. as for me, i'd go for another plant with a terminal spike anytime

I don't know that basal keikis can, or should be removed, but will grow happily with the mother, or replace the mother should it eventually die off

that's great yours has been doing so well! you should post pix - if you care to

[Gin]

I would leave the basal keiki where it is will grow faster then if removed and potted separate .