Growing buds but flowers died?

[SeaHawk14]

So this is my first successful orchid so far, I've never usually had any luck with them. In previous years they just died, therefore I'm very inexperienced. A few days ago all the flowers on one of the spikes have died, whilst the other two have been fine. But despite this it still seems to be growing at the tip, leading to an unusual situation in which I'm rather confused as to whether I should let it continue to grow or cut it.
I've added two images to clarify.

[801229001]

let it grow. this is normal

[Tschimm]

Welcome to the board.
Browse a bit through the Phalaenopsis-threads. There's plenty of information :-)

Let the spike grow if the plant is doing well. Maybe you'll get some more blooms on it.

[SeaHawk14]

Thank you for the welcome and for the advice. I shall let it grow in which case, it just seemed unusual for all the flowers to have died on that fork, whilst the rest remain. Perhaps they were exposed to too much sunlight? Or the steam from the tea? Since I usually place the mug underneath (unwittingly)

[Stray59]

Many phalae's can hold their blooms for months in a row if the conditions are right, but there are a variety of things conditions that can shorten the blooms life. I have found that a sudden temperature change, either really cold or hot, will lessen the lifespan of the blooms and can make the buds "blast" (turn yellow and fall off) very quickly; also, moving from a humid to a dry environment will cause bloom drop. And if the steam is close to the spike, then that would definitely result in a negative effect. If the light is intense on the one spike, that might cause such, but I would think that would be due to heat caused by the light.
A couple of questions....Did all three spikes bloom out at the same time? And how long have they been in bloom?
It's a nice looking clone, BTW!

[Tschimm]

Too much sunlight in the UK in March ? I doubt 😉
Hot steam could definitely harm the flowers though.

[SeaHawk14]

Originally Posted by Stray59

There are many things that can affect the life of the blooms. Many phalae's can hold their blooms for months in a row if the conditions are right. I have found that a sudden temperature change, either really cold or hot, will lessen the lifespan of the blooms and can make the buds "blast" (turn yellow and fall off).
Did all three spikes bloom out at the same time? And how long have they been in bloom?
It's a nice looking clone, BTW!

The ones towards the back of the fork have been there for well over a month and a half, the newer ones have been there around 4 weeks perhaps. On the other spike they've bloomed thereabouts the same time, give or take a few days. Suddenly three days ago the entire spike just withered and died. No clue as to why, they lasted and bloomed before and I haven't changed any conditions to my knowledge.

---------- Post added at 10:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:04 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Tschimm

Too much sunlight in the UK in March ? I doubt 😉
Hot steam could definitely harm the flowers though.

Yes, very true. Sunlight in March in the UK is very much a miracle. It's probable that it was the steam then, because it seemed so sudden, at the time I didn't think it would cause too much of an issue, I keep on finding ways to kill them without even noticing

[WhiteRabbit]

I have one Phal, given to me last April, in "full bloom" - the spike has not yet stopped growing, and producing more buds and flowers (tho not as many at a time as when I got it), and has recently started a new spike - So, it's not uncommon. Your plant is probably happy with the care you have been giving it