Is it healthy for an orchid to grow roots, leaves, and buds at the same time?

[Tabbyblack13]

I have a phal Fuller's gold strips that I got from Lowes with two spikes on it. It was in moss but when I got it home it went into phal mix and an orchid pot right away. After a few weeks a foster kitten knocked it over causing it to lose all of the flowers on one spike and the several flowers on the other. I've been giving it MSU fertilizer weakly weekly with altering supplements. I will use KLN root stimulus one week and kelp the next. I've been also alternating cal/mag (before that it was calcium nitrate and Epsom salt) and Quantum-orchid every other week for only about a month.

I noticed a few weeks ago that both spikes were growing longer then sending out buds. When I saw that I went to check the roots to make sure I didn't have any rot. I found a new root that was 3/4 inch long and a new tip of a root coming out of next to the spike. I also saw yesterday that a new leaf was coming up too.

Is it healthy for it to have all of this new growth? I've added some pics to show you what I'm looking at.



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[PaphMadMan]

Orchid growers often seem to have a unique ability... to worry that their plants are too healthy. If it doesn't grow new roots and leaves it will never grow the next round of flowers. Do you want to slow it down so you wait an extra year before seeing flowers again? Growth is health. Relax.

[LadySoren]

I'm still a newbie, but I think it's ok. Probably bc of all the rooting fert. you're giving. I know some people cut back on that when it's in spike.
With mine, I notice if a new leaf was growing and then it spikes, the leaf slows down while the spike grows.
I'd say any new leaves and roots are a great thing any time.

[katrina]

It's not at all unusual for a healthy phal (or any other orchid) to be growing leaves, roots and spikes simultaneously.

Good growing!

[POLKA]

Sounds like you are doing okay.

However, I would do the KLN / seaweed thing only once a month, not once a week. Their effects last about 21 to 30 days. And, they would be / could be alternated every other month, too (KLN January, seaweed February, etc). Their effects are similar in root stimulating. The extra micro-nutrients from the seaweed would be quite adequate at 30 or 60 day intervals. No worry.

The orchid has recovered well. Great Job.

Take care
Rex

[Tabbyblack13]

Thanks everyone. I'm new and don't want to stress out my plants out too much. Most of my experience is vegetable gardening so I'm use to heavy feeding to get results.


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[Tabbyblack13]

Well this little guy decided to bloom while I was away on vacation. I now can tell why the name has 'gold' in it.

When I bought it the strips were a shade or two darker and some yellow on the back of the flower where it meets the stem. I didn't see where the gold was coming into the name unless is was from one of the parents. With the new flowers I can see how the name fits. It's amazing to see the difference between the new and old flowers.


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[WhiteRabbit]

Nice!