Flower Spike?

[SRL]

My phal looks like it is growing a new flower spike, but it is curving backwards into the leaf base in a split. I've attached some pics. Hopefully they aren't too blurry. Should I cut away this leaf, or just let it grow to see what happens? I'm worried the spike will be stunted or something. New to orchids. Please advise.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Do nothing.

Let it grow on its own.

The spike will eventually orient itself towards the light source.

If you feel that it's stuck, gently pry it free with a skewer. Don't use your fingers or it'll break.

[reliablefool]

It's difficult to tell, but the coloring makes me think it is a root that is curving back towards the plant...although the third picture makes me second guess myself.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If it's a root, same advice. This time, you can wet the root and pry it free if it's really stuck. Just gotta find the right opportunity.

[SRL]

Thanks. I'll wait for it grow some more. Can't wait to see what it is!

[merkity]

i had one that did that - and it came out just fine - it curled like that and managed t ogo around the plant to the otherside.

[RosieC]

I wouldn't do anything. I've broken spikes trying to free them when they have started like that so I prefer to just leave them now. They generally sort themselves out.

[SRL]

So I should have left the growth alone, I wiggled it out and it turned yellow and dried out. I cut it off. However a new growth is happening and I have not touched it, but it is kinda doing the same thing. It has broken itself. Attached are some pics. I'm hoping it may spike anyways. The plant does have a few new roots growing.

[RandomGemini]

Is the new growth you're talking about the one that's growing in the crown between the leaves? If so, I hope that's a leaf... not a spike.

A spike growing out of the crown is usually a bad sign, at that point I think the thing that most people do is hope that the plant will produce a keiki.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

Is the new growth you're talking about the one that's growing in the crown between the leaves? If so, I hope that's a leaf... not a spike.

A spike growing out of the crown is usually a bad sign, at that point I think the thing that most people do is hope that the plant will produce a keiki.

Indeed: terminal spike: the last, desperate attempt of an unwell, OR genetically compromised Phal to stay alive, given, often, such plants produce basal growths when the flowers on the terminal spike fade. I had this phenomenon present on no less than THREE semi albas, all found over time, and all hugely floriferous and gorgeous. So, my take is, this propensity can be a glitch in the breeding/genetics...and, if it is, the keikis might well manifest this issue too. I failed to save any of these three lovely Phals after their initial, terminal bloom.

But in this case, I think its many not be a terminal spike, tho not positive, given, while something inflorescent like--to me, not rootlike--- is clearly curling, it also appears something other than a leaf has emerged from the crown.