Third flower spike

[lauraeli]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Keikis are not a sign of impending doom nor unhappiness with the world. They come when the plant's program tells it to. Phals as with some other monopodial orchids propagate in this manner. I have a phal that has put out three keikis and the mother is still fat and happy. I just have not seen too many phals produce spikes below the last spikes. But lots of keikis which in infancy look just like spikes. I too was thrilled when this little tyke started to throw what I hoped would be a spike. Then another, and another. Alas they were all keikis. A spike usually has that mitten look and the end is fatter than a keiki. A keiki has a pointier end.

You have convinced me :-) It does look pretty pointy. The first thing I noticed was that it didnt look like a root, and since I wasnt expecting a keiki, I thought spike! I will remember for next time (y) thanks for the info

[judith_arquette]

I think one of mine is doing the same thing as yours! While watering the gang this morning I noticed a new growth on one of my Phals. My first thought was "cool! Another new root!" But on closer inspection I saw clearly that it wasn't a root at all. It's "pointy" as described and def nothing I've seen growing on any of my plants before...

[lauraeli]

First equestris bloom opened! And the new growth on my NOID turned out to be a keiki after all!

Also, complete repot of a few days ago (phal snowflake) seems a success! After removing all the bark from the roots and replacing it, it has not even dropped a flower (it only had/has one left).

[lauraeli]

Question on the repot- I buried the aerial roots in the bark. Im regretting it now, in hindsight. I am planning on keeping it a little on the dry side for a while. How long does it take the aerial roots to adjust to being in the pot?

[james mickelso]

They should adjust right away. They don't like to be drowned.

[lauraeli]

Right away? Ive had an aerial root start rotting within 3 days. Granted, that was with sphagnum moss. But i didnt even bury that one... :-/ not that it was a healthy root to begin with.