Disappointed with new Phal! - Orchid Board

ButterflyJak · #1 03-09-2017, 05:35 PM

Bought a new phal last week with 4 flower spikes, thought it was strange there was a spike growing up through the centre so I've just looked it up. A terminal spike, most upset

thought I was on to a winner!

Disappointed with new Phal!-img_3745-jpg

Disappointed with new Phal!-img_3743-jpg

Disappointed with new Phal!-img_3740-jpg

jcec1 · #2 03-09-2017, 06:02 PM

There's a good chance that the plant will produce an offset and continue growing. Terminal as in the growth point terminates and not as in a death spiral.

rbarata · #3 03-09-2017, 06:07 PM

Probably it will produce a new growth from the base.
Orchid growing teaches us to be patient.

PaphMadMan · #4 03-09-2017, 09:33 PM

That's a healthy plant, and with good care I would expect it to be a very impressive multi-crown specimen in a few years. Most people seem to think terminal spike is like terminal illness, but it really means the spike is at the terminus (end) of the stem. Most plants survive, though it may not bloom for a couple years as new growths develop. But when it does it will be worth the wait.

estación seca · #5 03-09-2017, 10:15 PM

It's also a very beautiful flower. When it eventually clumps from the base it should put on a spectacular show.

jkofferdahl · #6 03-09-2017, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

That's a healthy plant, and with good care I would expect it to be a very impressive multi-crown specimen in a few years. Most people seem to think terminal spike is like terminal illness, but it really means the spike is at the terminus (end) of the stem. Most plants survive, though it may not bloom for a couple years as new growths develop. But when it does it will be worth the wait.

Exactly!! We hear "terminal" and immediately think of it like "terminal cancer". No survival. But when used with orchids the term merely refers to the fact that the plant's primary growth stem will no longer grow. Orchids persist, though. The mother plant should still survive several years, and while it does it is likely to produce basal keikis. The terminus of the growing stem has stopped, but it produces plantlets from the sides. You also may see the one leaf above the crown (at the first node of the stem) develop into a keiki. Further, with that many spikes you are likely to get a keiki from one of those as well. In fact, you could buy KeikiGro (or Keiki Paste, or whatever it's called these days) to induce keikis on the spike. With these many possibilities you may not have flowers next year but quite likely could the year after.

Still, there's another possibility. When that plant was sold, the grower must have known that the plant had a terminal spike. That he sold the plant anyway speaks volumes about their morals (well, actually the lack thereof). If you're just not happy even knowing that your plant should "recover" eventually then you should return to the seller, tell them it's defective (I'd call a "new" plant in such condition "defective") and get a refund. You only bought it a week ago!

ButterflyJak · #7 03-10-2017, 02:05 PM

Thank you all for your feedback, I'm definitely going to persist as it has so many buds still to bloom and it does look very healthy with a good root system. Will teach me more much about orchids.