Phal sent spike but no bloom

[Dollythehun]

I don't think I'd worry about that. It looks normal, probably just pokey.

[TomThumb]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I don't think I'd worry about that. It looks normal, probably just pokey.

That's actually an aerial root. It's not a spike. There are no nodes on it.

Edit: oh I see the spike. It's pretty short and looks thick? It's probably just slow because conditions aren't ideal? My Phal spikes take a while to grow and bloom. Months.

[Dollythehun]

That does not look like a root to me.

[TomThumb]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

That does not look like a root to me.

Yes i was looking on my phone and noticed the root first and then the short spike. It looks young so it will take a while to grow to full length and bloom.

[mook1178]

Thank you all. I guess since all looks healthy I'll just have to be patient. I have begun to fertilize, so maybe that will help.

I have another Phal that is in bloom and the spike started about a week after. There are only 3 blooms though. I think that may be from not fertilizing.

[Mountaineer370]

I agree that looks like a very healthy Phalaenopsis. The spike looks fine, but it's impossible to say what it's going to do now, if anything. If you've had it over a year and have never fertilized it, I think it most likely needs it, but make sure you read up on the proper way to fertilize orchids. Ask here if you have any questions.

There is a thread that beginners are often referred to. I don't know if you've discovered it yet, but there's lots of information to be absorbed specifically about Phals. Here is the link. It's 71 pages or so of helpful information.

The Phal abuse ends here.

[Puja]

Just to get back on this, as others have said, this looks like a perfectly healthy spike which is still in its expanding phase and all you need it a little patience.

I have two orchids at the moment who are growing both a leaf and a spike at the same time (due to the hot late summer, they apparently thought it was a good idea to form a second leaf just before temperatures dropped which caused spikes to start setting).
What happens is that the plant prioritises one over the other, which may switch at any given time. The orchid may have suddenly decided after growing the spike a few inches that the leaf had precedence and so stopped growth in the spike. At some point it will switch back to growing the spike, which will expand and bloom this year. It will just take longer than your other orchids only growing a spike. Also, even with that prioritisation nutrients are still divided over two different structures, so naturally growth in both leaf and spike is slower.

P.S. Really, the value of fertiliser is exaggerated, especially for phals. You can grow phals and oncidiums without the use of any fertiliser (or supplements of other sorts) whatsoever, though e.g. leaves might be slightly smaller. A spike on a healthy plant will not stop growing due to a lack of fertiliser.

[mook1178]

Thank you Puja. That actually makes a lot of sense.

Upon closer inspection whole watering today, I found a new Spike growing from the original. Hoping to still get flowers this year!