phalaenopsis with "ingrown" bloom spike?

[iamppdoc]

This phalaenopsis began putting out a spike about a month ago. From the get-go it looked like it was doubled over and "ingrown". The two ends looked completely attached to the plant and to each other. Any ideas? Will it still bloom?

[zxyqu]

I've had this happen before, and most of the time it'll bloom. There are some options but each has risk. You can just leave it alone, and as long as the spike is still growing it'll eventually pop out. You can also take a sterile razor blade and try and cut a little more space at the top of the spike. Since it's already bent, it'll stay that way a little, but you can add some stuff to that loop you see to encourage it to bend northward so it'll pop out.

[cbuchman]

Sometimes you van very gently loosen the growing end from the foliage that is holding it double. The key word is gentle!

[iamppdoc]

It does not look like the end is "stuck". It looks like to two ends are growing out of the plant!

[zxyqu]

Oh, I promise, one end is stuck inside the bract point from which it emerged. It's the top part of your growing spike, and not some weird loop growth (which would be fun...). So I'd gently try and tease it out, but be careful.

[iamppdoc]

You were right. I pulled it out and the top part came out.....but I cracked the spike at the loop. Now I just have to wait and see what happens.

[MrsSky]

Hopefully your the spike was not too damaged to flower. I coaxed out a spike from a Oncidium Speckled Spire 'Snowflake' last night. Luckily, I found it while watering.

[terminalcreed]

Having the same problem with one of my mini Phals. Since it had sent out another growth I thought that was it, so now I'm leaving it alone. I'm hoping the plant doesn't kill itself by growing through its center.

[zxyqu]

It's not growing through the center, as much as growing from the base with the tip stuck, hence the formation of a loop. Either leave it alone or carefully try and tease it out. It wont harm the mother plant.