Phal with deformed bloom spike

[Tshootr]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Beyond strange to see! Did the spike go through that leaf below before starting its twists and turns? On mine I sometimes do minor leaf surgery to free the spike tip, but your looks really jammed in there. With all the roots in that area as well that will block its progress under the leaf, either it's somehow going to turn around to come back out, or stay stuck there permanently.

No, the spike doesn't go through the leaf. It seems to be just stuck there. I'm afraid to cut the leaf because the spike is right in the middle of it. The leaf would probably come off. I've tried moving the leaf down a little and moving the spike, but it just won't budge.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by Tshootr

Thanks everyone for responding to my question.
Camille1585, I think you have it right.
I looked closer and it does look like the spike tip is growing into the leaf. It just stops there. There's nothing under the leaf and I tried nudging it and it won't move.
Izzie, I posted another photo. Don't know if this one is much better.
I'm thinking that maybe I should just leave it like this and see what happens. The plant doesn't seem to be under any stress.

it kinda looks like it does the twists and then goes under the roots on the right. or does it simply stop like a "T" at the leaf? i would leave it be and see what happens...just my

[Tshootr]

Originally Posted by help

it kinda looks like it does the twists and then goes under the roots on the right. or does it simply stop like a "T" at the leaf? i would leave it be and see what happens...just my

It just stops like a "T". I'll leave it and see what happens.

[CTB]

I think it will make a u-turn and go on about its business. Neat!

[camille1585]

Just out of curiousity, what did the strange spike do in the end?

I was thinking of your phal when I went home for the holidays, because one of mine did the exact same thing (sister is keeping part of the collection for me). It started a spike in october which had started to do twisty things like yours. Well getting home last week I discovered that not only had the spike got itself jammed into a leaf (like yours) and then aborted, it also grew a new spike which did the exact same thing! I tried to free it by performing some minor leaf surgery, but it was hopelessly stuck. I ended up breaking the spike tip, which is still firmly buried in the leaf. Not even tweezers can pluck it out. I'm surprised by how strong a fragile spike tip can be!

[Tshootr]

The deformed part still looks the same. I'm just leaving it alone. But mine has done the same thing as yours. It's gotten another bloom spike...a normal one that is now about 3 inches long already.

[jaxorchidman]

It's just being shy! LOL!

[lauraeli]

Any way to encourage a spike to grow a certain way? This phal leans (even though I did recently repot it in a more upright position) and with the direction the spike tip is growing, it will have trouble getting out from under the phal, and then be impossible to stake. I would like to stake this one or it won't grow straight up, since the light source is not above it.

This spike does not feel the least bit flexible so any attempt to bend it would snap it.

Spike was initially burying itself in the base of the leaf above it, and then changed its mind and is now free.

[calibama]

Was just going to post a pic of mine. Does this every year!! :-(

It has only had one bud/bloom push its way through ever (last year). This years "twist" is extra tight. Can't get it untangled at all.