Is this a terminal spike?

[leslieann79]

This was a three dollar clearance lowes plant. Its doing well in its recovery, but now there is this. Is it a terminal spike?

[Roy]

The plant appears to be a Phalaenopsis. The spike will grow to a certain length dependant on culture. If you leave the spike on after the flowers finish it may produce other off shoot spikes from eyes on the spike. Terminal yes but not necessarily end of flowering.

[lauraeli]

Post another picture. That does not look like a terminal spike to me. Isnt it coming up from UNDER the crown? That looks like a new leaf to the left of it.

[AuroraPhal]

I think that is not terminal spike. Terminal spike grows from center of the crown, and it looks to me that spike grows lower, from side, not center of the crown. It would be good if you can put another picture from different angle

[SRL]

I'm a noob, lol, but I don't think that is terminal either. I have one with a terminal spike. See pic. This plant did bloom for months. I have a thread about this plant. See link.

Flower Spike?

[leslieann79]

Thanks all. I don't know why the picture came out sideways.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Definitely not a terminal spike. It is coming from below the two uppermost leaves.

I typically see spikes emerging from Phals about 4 leaves down, your spike decided to emerge higher on the plant than that, but still not terminal.

SRL's photo is a terminal spike (but the plant looks healthy & probably will send out a basal keiki).

[lauraeli]

...why are the leaves purple?

[JMNYC]

REVISION! Sorry! I was looking at the pic someone was kind enough to put up of one of his Phals which does have a terminal spike. Indeed, as everyone has concluded, the OP's plant is producing a spike normally not from the crown!
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Sorry to say this, but I believe that plant does have a terminal spike....and whatever is emerging from the base of THAT, I do not know.

In monopodial orchids, leaves emerge cleanly from the crown, one after another. That is not what I see in yr pic; I see a leaf having formed on an inflorescence emerging from the crown.

[leslieann79]

Originally Posted by lauraeli

...why are the leaves purple?

I don't know why they are purple. I've bought several phals that had purple leaves and they've stayed that way.

---------- Post added at 03:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:35 PM ----------

This phal just had a spike growing a little higher up than I've seen on my plants before. Im glad its not a terminal spike. Now I know it has to be coming from the center for it to be terminal. Thanks