My biggest & best phallie lost its top leaf awhile back, due I think to being in a too dark environment. It has since grown a small stunted leaf at the top, but a new plant has emerged on the side & that is growing slowly. I am very disappointed as it produced a wonderful spike of flowers last year. Do I just leave it as it is & hope for spikes at some future time?
One who is besotted!
Let it grow. If by chance the new growth sprouts roots, you can remove it when the root growth is adequate & have 2 plants, but you should have 2 or more flower spikes & lots of flowers the next time it is in bloom.
The new growth is a keiki. Some plants grow keikis because the mother plant is under stress. Other plants grow keikis as part of their normal development. Keikis shouldn't be removed from the mother plant until they develop several healthy roots. Best case senario is that both the mother and the keiki do well and both will bloom. That's very often the case. Worst case senario the mother plant will decline in health but you'll have a new plant with the keiki. Right now you just care for the plant as usual and see what happens. Good luck.
A keiki from a spike is easy to remove, a basal keiki like that can be difficult or impossible to remove. I agree with Tucker. Leave it in place and you will either get lots of blooms or at least have one of this plant if the mother declines.
Thankyou all for your prompt responses. Guess I'll just have to a wait & see, but still very disappointing as it was such a fast grower & great flowering spike.
Cheers.