Phal spiking from crown - Orchid Board

antkaren · #1 11-21-2008, 03:10 PM

I have often heard it said that when your plant receives an award...it can be the kiss of death! I have a phal that was awarded last year...an AM of 82. It has two spikes on it now...one properly located and the other from the crown. Do they always die if they bloom from the crown? How about cutting the spike...is there a benefit from that?

Thanks,
antkaren

priz_m · #2 11-21-2008, 03:15 PM

Oh antkaren I am sorry to hear that, for what you are saying it sound like you are dealing with a terminal spike, there are some posts here on the OB referring to that:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...laenopsis.html
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...nal-spike.html
Terminal spike?

It doesn't necessarily means you phal will die, it will just stop blooming, hopefully that spike will give you a keiki, so you can get beautiful award winning flowers from this new generation, time to bring the keiki pro

camille1585 · #3 11-21-2008, 03:45 PM

Talk about bad luck...Sorry to hear about it.

It does sounds like a terminal spike. priz m gave you some good links to look at.

In a nutshell, the phal will no longer grow leaves or produce blooms, but will still live for quite a while. So don't cut the spikes after blooming! If you apply some keiki paste hopefully you will get some keikis. Otherwise just hope that the plant sends out a basal keiki.

kavanaru · #4 11-21-2008, 03:49 PM

...and if you get the Keikis, it will still be the same plant, and you can keep your award

nenella · #5 11-21-2008, 03:56 PM

I agree don't cut anything ! be patient she will do everything to keep on living & reflowering !! show her lots of TLC. Good luck ! keep us posted !

Brooke · #6 11-21-2008, 08:15 PM

I had a phal get a terminal spike, then produced the basal keiki. This year the basal keiki bloomed as did the original plant :>)

Brooke

dounoharm · #7 11-21-2008, 08:19 PM

i too have a totally tubular phal...i am waiting anxiously to see if it will give me a keiki...it was one of my faves...thanks all for the information on how to handle my poor 'chid.

frostedeyes · #8 11-21-2008, 10:16 PM

really a flower spike on the crown will die? i didnt know that! that's sad to hear then. actually im not aware how or where the spike grows but ive seen some of my local phals growing new shoots from the base...

Sandy4453 · #9 11-21-2008, 11:07 PM

Don't cut anything! The spikes have a good chance of growing a kieki and many times, the plant will produce basal kiekis inherently, in a last ditch effort to continue it's living on, so-to-speak. If you don't have, now's a great excuse to try keiki paste to induce growth on the spikes. As well, it'll take a long time before the plant dies and may produce more spikes before then, giving you more chances to growing kiekis. Best of luck!