Are 4 spikes too many in a Phalaenopsis orchid?

[Kingianum]

Hi all,

My young Phalaenopsis orchid has been in full bloom on two long spikes for about 7 months!!! So happy for her

But now she is throwing out two more spikes while the old spikes are still producing flowers. I do admire her determination

Are 4 spikes too many for the mother plant? The plant and spike photos are attached.

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Lin

[fishmom]

The plant knows best.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by fishmom

The plant knows best.

Bingo!

If we disregard "forcing", there are basically two times an orchid will bloom: one is I when it is dying due to a disease or poor cultural parameters, so it is a last-ditch attempt to carry on the gene pool, and the other is when it has built up sufficient reserves to try to reproduce without having to "wear itself out", with the conditions being right to initiate the inflorescence growth.

I know a guy in Central America who experimented by giving his Phalaenopsis ideal growing conditions and care, but never allowed them to cool down (the "right condition" for spiking). After several years of growth - his plants typically had 10 or more pairs of 18" leaves - he allowed them a temperature drop, and the plants threw something in the neighborhood of 10-12 spikes each,

[Mountaineer370]

It looks like a healthy plant, so sit back and enjoy all those spikes! Whatever you're doing, it seems happy.

[Kingianum]

Hi fishmom/Ray/Mountaineer370,

Thank you all so much for the advice and information. Those really are ensuring.

Cheers