spike on recouping phal-keep or not?

[Call_Me_Bob]

hi guys! i have a phalaenopsis that ive had for 2 12 years. its the oldest one in my collection and it was from my gramma. when i got it, it almost died via root rot and old media.

i nursed it back to health and i bloomed this past december. around the same time, it got a bad case of root rot again. in the end it had 1 aerial root left and that was all. so i basically gave up. i potted it up and forgot about it.

fast forward to now, and its made a recovery. strong healthy roots and three great healthy leaves. i thought with any luck, ill have flowers in the spring, once it recovers and grows more leaves....


well low and behold, i just found a spike today. and im not sure what to do. the plant only has three leaves. but they are healthy and it has healthy roots. but im not sure if its best to leave the spike on, or if i should cut it while its small.

its a noid by the way... here are the last blooms...

[Lagoon]

Bob, It wants to live, lol. If this were mine .... I would allow it to go for a couple of weeks and enjoy those blossoms you worked hard for. You said december, it should be much healthier by now. But I would cut down after that and just continue with its recovery. It can still bloom in the spring. My phals bloom 2x per year.

Its really up to you

[Call_Me_Bob]

okay, ill do just that. that was my gut instinct, but i wanted this one to live for sure. because its from my gramma and its my oldest. thanks alot!

[RosieC]

I was in a similar situation last year. My original phal had also got sick due to my mistakes early in my orchid collecting. I had cut off many spikes while it was struggling but last summer I let it spike, even though it only had 3 leaves.

It did well put on a nice display and still seems to be doing relatively well (up to 4 leaves now).

I say let it spike if it's current leaves/roots seem healthy.

[Call_Me_Bob]

okay. i figure it will end the spike if it cant handle it, right?

[Merlyn]

Three leaves is fairly common when growing Phals inside UNLESS you have a fantastic humidity or even better genes ! I've only a few mature plants with more than 3 leaves. I also think you're right, Bob, that if it can't handle it it will blast the blooms or buds.

[Daethen]

Wow, I must be very lucky. Most of my phals have 5 leaves and my best is carrying 9. My humidity is not very great so it must be good genes.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Merlyn

Three leaves is fairly common when growing Phals inside UNLESS you have a fantastic humidity or even better genes ! I've only a few mature plants with more than 3 leaves.

Interesting because I've heard that said before, but mine are typically 6-8 with some monsters at 12-14. I've just glanced over my 20ish phals and the smallest has 4 leaves (the one I mentioned earlier which is still recovering) and the next smallest has 6 leaves. The size of the leaves varies on different ones, but 6-8 is common across almost all of them.

It's got to relate to environment I think. The UK is generally humid although my house is not as humid as outside (especially in the winter), but a 'normal' day is probably only about 60%-70% from what I see in my greenhouse. (All my phals grow indoors).

[Kelo]

I have two small phals with two leaves that have bloomed wonderfully so far. My Phal equestris 'Fairy Tale' has two spikes and looks as strong as an ox. My humidity is usually around 75% and that seems to be the ideal level for my plants grown by my methods. It's up to you though if you cut or keep.

[Bud]

Let nature take its course, if you alter it... then the problem starts...you say the plant has three leaves and stable root system: its got enough energy to spike and make blooms for you...just enjoy it; its rewarding you for your efforts.
If the leaves of that Phal is dappled silver and deep green ...looking at the flower it is a Phaleanopsis stuartiana. Its a tenacious orchid and its hard to kill it.