Third flower spike

[lauraeli]

This NOID phal just got done with two very beautiful, full flower spikes. The last flower fell less than a week ago. It has been in flower for months...so, why is it growing another spike from the bottom? Just being generous??

Less weird, I also have a secondary spike growing on my phal snowflake (fourth pic). I got it with two broken flower spikes so I guess it is intent on giving me a show :-) and my equestris is ALMOST there (last pic).

[orchidsarefun]

Congrats, you are giving your plants optimum cultural conditions - and getting rewarded with repeated displays !

[judith_arquette]

The first few pics look like new root growth to me...still a great thing

[lauraeli]

Originally Posted by judith_arquette

The first few pics look like new root growth to me...still a great thing

It is hard to see in the pictures. It has a mitten shape. It didnt strike me as a root at all, even when I first glanced at it. It looks completely different. But as it grows out a bit it will be more obvious.

[james mickelso]

A keiki.

[lauraeli]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

A keiki.

Where?

[james mickelso]

Very seldom have I seen a flower spike lower than the last one. But I have seen lots of keikis come from below flower spikes.

[lauraeli]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Very seldom have I seen a flower spike lower than the last one. But I have seen lots of keikis come from below flower spikes.

It looks just like a flower spike, from looking at pictures! But, I cannot find a similar example of a keiki.

What reason would a perfectly happy phal have for putting out a keiki?

[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.

[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