Phalaenopsis growth on flower stalk

[Andi]

I have a phalaenopsis that is nearing the end of a blooming and has developed a growth on the flower stalk. I really know very little about orchids, but have never noticed this in pictures or on plants I've seen in nurseries. I have noticed that after it started getting bigger it has started robbing the remaining flowers of nutrients and the blossoms are fading quick and the buds at the tip died.

Could someone explain this growth, what it would be called, why it formed (is it normal), is it good bad or otherwise, and what should I do with it. I wouldn't mind a link, if that's easier. That's a lot of questions.

Well, I was trying to post a pic of it, but the board won't let me. Strange thing is its from the same exact place as my avatar. The message said something about first time posters. This is my second post. I'll see if it will let me post it after this post.

---------- Post added at 10:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 AM ----------

Nope. Post denied. That's annoying.

[FSUOrchids]

I think you need either 5 or 10 posts before it lets you post a photo.

[silken]

You need 5 posts to post a picture. I think you can attach one before that if it's not too big.

It is likely a keiki (a baby plant). Some Phals have a tendency to do this and others don't. Most people just leave them on until it has at least 3 inches of good root and then twist it off or cut the stem and plant it. If the plant is healthy I don't know that it would hurt your blooms.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ng-photos.html

[Andi]

I found a way around the picture thing. I started a gallery. I put the pic in there.

A baby plant is called a keiki when it grows off the mother plant or is it just the term for a baby plant in general?

[cutie_monster]

here is a wikipedia page all about phal keikis:

Keiki - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[silken]

Originally Posted by Andi

I found a way around the picture thing. I started a gallery. I put the pic in there.

A baby plant is called a keiki when it grows off the mother plant or is it just the term for a baby plant in general?

A keiki is when it grows off the mother. Often on Phals and Dendrobiums. However many orchids grow new growths which is their normal way of growing and these are not considered keikis. A young plant is called a seedling when it is grown from seed. I think mericloned young plants are also referred to as seedlings when small, but someone may correct me on that.