Mistaken about sequential bloomers...?

[greenpassion]

Hi all. Last spring one of my mini phals spiked and bloomed, but the flowers didn't 'behave' like any other phal I have. One bud would bloom, and then just as another would open, the first flower 'went by'. It kept doing this, and I thought (for some reason) that it's a sequential bloomer. Has anyone ever had a phal that bloomed like that? The plant was then and still is now very healthy. It's in spike again, and I'm guessing it'll do that same weird way of blooming. That said, from what I just read, a sequential bloomer is one that will continue to bloom from it's old spike. I do have a few of those...

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

Hi all. Last spring one of my mini phals spiked and bloomed, but the flowers didn't 'behave' like any other phal I have. One bud would bloom, and then just as another would open, the first flower 'went by'. It kept doing this, and I thought (for some reason) that it's a sequential bloomer. Has anyone ever had a phal that bloomed like that? The plant was then and still is now very healthy. It's in spike again, and I'm guessing it'll do that same weird way of blooming. That said, from what I just read, a sequential bloomer is one that will continue to bloom from it's old spike. I do have a few of those...

That is the pattern of a group of Phalaenopsis species (subgenus Polychilos)This includes Phal cornu-cervi, Phal bellina, Phal violacea among others. They can do this for months or even years (especially cornu-cervi) leaving behind a really interesting "scalloped" stem where earlier flowers were. If one of these is in the background of your Phal, that is normal behavior. Don't cut the spike until it turns brown, that's the only time you can be sure that the particular spike is really spent.

If you have an ID on the plant, I can look up its pedigree.

[greenpassion]

Roberta, this one that has to lose a flower just as the new one opens up is a noid. A mini noid. Did I misunderstand your answer to be directed at the ones that rebloom on old spikes? I have a lot of those. My question is now about this one that won't have a number of flowers on it-each time a bud opens, the flower that bloomed before it goes by...

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

Roberta, this one that has to lose a flower just as the new one opens up is a noid. A mini noid. Did I misunderstand your answer to be directed at the ones that rebloom on old spikes? I have a lot of those. My question is now about this one that won't have a number of flowers on it-each time a bud opens, the flower that bloomed before it goes by...

The ones I'm talking about do exactly what you're observing,,, pop out one flower at a time on a lengthening spike, in the case of Phal cornu-cervi this can go on for months or even a few years - one flower at a time, drops it and pops another at the end of the spike. These are small flowers - typically an inch or less across. But really cute.
Here's Phal. cornu-cervi. http://orchidcentral.org/Images/Phal...ornu-cervi.jpg can see some of the spikes behind the flower that have been doing this for awhile - each little "scallop" once had a flower, new ones open on the end. The spikes just behind the flower have the beginnings of buds on the tip. Occasionally a spike will have two flowers at one time if a bud develops on both sides of the tip of the spike at the same time.

[greenpassion]

Oh ok. I'm not able to open that link (I'm on a work computer) but I'll check it out when I get home) I have to admit I don't really care much for that bloom 'pattern', never having more than one flower bloomed at a time. I really love the ones that give me numerous flowers all open at once, and they stay open for months on end. I have no idea where I got the one that is sequential. As all but 3 of my phals are currently in spike and or bud, I'll know which one it is in short order. Thanks for your help Roberta!