Flower total with one spike or two

[terryros]

I have a number of Phals that this year are putting out two spikes instead of one. Forgetting the reason why this might be occurring, what are your opinions about whether each of the the two spikes will have fewer blooms than if the plants had a single spike (e.g. 6 blooms on each of two versus 12 on one spike)? I wondered if a plant is genetically primed to produce a maximum number of blooms under ideal conditions whether on a single spike or two spikes.

[Ben Belton]

Two spikes will not give you fewer blooms as long as the plant they are on is healthy and good sized for it's breeding.

[Brooke]

Ditto to what Ben said. You will have twice the pleasure:>) Congrats on giving it proper care to produce two spikes.

Brooke

[terryros]

Hold the congratulations! Last year a large pink Phal that I bought in bloom for my father-in-laws funeral had 8-10 flowers on it (looking back at the picture). This month the first spike on this plant (large with many roots in s/h) looks like it has stopped at 5 flowers (3 open now, two buds left). The second spike is further behind and now has 5-6 buds forming. I thought I had grown the plant very well and was hoping for 8-10 flowers on each spike. So, I am picturing this year having 10-12 total blooms between the two spikes, rather than the 16+ I had hoped for. There must still be something suboptimal about my culture that caused bud development to stop at 5 on the first spike? I grew about 4 large leaves and tons of roots on this plant since last year indoors under fluorescent light and initiated spiking in all my Phals with short days and cooling this Fall. After two months of cooling/short days I have taken the day length back up and warmed things up. Maybe this stops bud development and I should have left things cooler or with shorter day length for longer?

[Brooke]

Are you sure there will be no future buds enlarge and bloom? Many Phals bloom sequentially for a long period of time.

Brooke

[Royal]

IMHO, 10-12 on two spikes is better than 8 on one. I kind of prefer a double spike - more flowers open at the same time. I'd say it's a sign that you are growing them well. Keep it up, maybe next year you'll get 10 x 2 spikes, then maybe a few years after that you'll get 8 x 3! That would be sweet.

[terryros]

Thanks to all of you. It is very possible that more buds may develop later and that will make me happy. I do like the two spike look although it may be the novelty because I have never had this before. I was certainly not complaining, just curious about what makes two spikes instead of one as well as whether Phalaenopsis plants are genetically primed to make a certain maximum number of blooms under ideal conditions. I will stop being curious about this - you get what you get.

[Royal]

terry, I think the short answer is that some are "genetically primed" to either be a heavy bloomer, normal, or sparse bloomer. BUT, I think your culture is more likely to be the reason for the extra spike this year. Genetic potential is nothing without providing the conditions required to fulfill it. I still say well done.

[Ross]

I also feel that really healthy Phals with really big leaves (at least as large as the previous year set) and really healthy roots, is very likely to sport multpile spikes. There is no reason I can think of as to why there would be less flowers. Multiple spikes are a signal of much stored energy.