Terminal spike and new spike

[makromolekula]

Hello guys, so I am orchidboard virginfirst time, first post

I was trying to find same topic, but couldnt.
I bought an orchid(phal) with terminal spike, it was my first one so i had no idea something is wrong. Now I got basal keiki and new spike(very tiny, but I am sure it is not root) from mama orchid. Is it even possible? From what i learnt i thought once there is terminal spike, then there is no way for new spike. I was so happy about basal keiki and now new spike. Should I be happy?or not?

[PaphMadMan]

When you get a terminal spike on a Phal it means the plant can no longer grow larger, there will be no more leaves, and eventually it will die. It can still get spikes from the normal position at each node but the plant is doomed unless you get a basal keiki. It sounds like you have a very healthy well grown plant that is doing its best to flower and survive no matter what - the best possible outcome.

[tucker85]

I have one phal that had a terminal spike. I had to do some research because I never had that happen before. As Paphmadman said it will no longer grow any more new leaves. Mine did not spike again but it did grow some new roots. It also developed two keikis that grew very rapidly and are quite large now.

[Zoi2]

Hello and welcome to the OB, congratulations on the keiki!
Joann

[makromolekula]

Thank you very much for warm welcome and your answers. I love my orchids

[tucker85]

Here's a picture of a Phal I have that developed a terminal spike last year. In the center you can see that the old flower spike grew right out of the middle of the plant where you would expect new leaves to grow. That was a year ago and that part of the plant still grows roots but no new leaves will grow from there. The plant developed two keikis, one on each side, that have grown quite large over the last year. I'm just leaving it for now to let the plant figure out what it wants to do.

[RosieC]

I've heard of phals with terminal spikes producing new spikes... they just can't grow leaves (except as basal keikis like in Tucker's great example). Some will die eventually if no basel keiki starts up, but many will produce one or more basel keikis and keep going.