I did not kill it!

[Tindomul]

It could be common, I think it might have something to do with culture, not sure. In anycase, it is a form of asexual reproduction, basically a fail safe mechanism.
Grass grows from the base, the growing tip is always at the base, which is why it can mowed down and it regrows.

[My Green Pets]

Originally Posted by Corsetière

It seems like creating a terminal spike is a silly thing to do in terms of reproduction.

It is odd, but perhaps its similar to bromeliads, which also stop growing after producing an inflorescence.

Also I guess we should consider that this plant has likely been the result of many generations of breeding, which can result in all kinds of kookiness.

Heh. Whenever I see weirdness like peloric flowers, ingrown spikes, etc., I'm like, "Hybrids. Sheesh."

[Phal-lover]

This looks like a terminal spike. This is what happens when an orchid can't produce any more leaves. Sorry, but after this flowering, your orchid will probably die.

[Tindomul]

Its not going to all of a sudden die. Its basically cannot do anything other than live out its life without adding anything more to extend its lifespan. But it has keikies, so, in a sense it survives!

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Its not going to all of a sudden die. Its basically cannot do anything other than live out its life without adding anything more to extend its lifespan. But it has keikies, so, in a sense it survives!

I have a Phal that got a terminal spike earlier this year. Shortly after blooming it started a basal keiki.

[Phal-lover]

Correcting. Correcting everywhere.

I have a stupid brain. I meant after the leaves fall off. (and now I sound like I didn't mean that, and am just covering up.) I'm going to stop talking now.

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by Phal-lover

Correcting. Correcting everywhere.

I have a stupid brain. I meant after the leaves fall off. (and now I sound like I didn't mean that, and am just covering up.) I'm going to stop talking now.

It happens to all of us,
Its why 3000 brains is better than 1

[dounoharm]

I had a lovely phal that after a few years, developed a terminal spike...I was horrified, as I really loved this one, and it had not developed a basal or stem keiki...it bloomed and bloomed tho, that terminal spike branched out all over the place, and then additional spikes came from the side leaves and lordy me, that thing bloomed and bloomed (the last effort, lol) it bloomed for 2 years! masses of blooms! then finally, a basal keiki came! I was so relieved! it grew very fast, right beside mama, the two of them were huge and filled a large pot. the keiki started blooming after only a year, and the mother was still blooming...she lived forever, but stopped putting out bloom stems finally...I just left it as long as it was green....good luck with yours!

[Corsetière]

Originally Posted by dounoharm

then finally, a basal keiki came! I was so relieved! it grew very fast, right beside mama, the two of them were huge and filled a large pot. the keiki started blooming after only a year, and the mother was still blooming...she lived forever, but stopped putting out bloom stems finally...I just left it as long as it was green....good luck with yours!

So the keiki should be able to survive even if the mother plant eventually dies? It will just keep growing as the mother plant declines?

[My Green Pets]

I should say so, yes.