Flower stalk from the growing center - Orchid Board

Vina · #1 04-14-2009, 08:38 AM

One of my phals ir flowering from the very center, as far as I know its unusual.
Any comments or experience would be very appreciated.

whygreenberg · #2 04-14-2009, 10:12 AM

This is called a terminal spike. Someone else may correct me, but I believe that this means it will be the last time your Phal. blooms.

jkofferdahl · #3 04-14-2009, 10:56 AM

This is very unfortunate. Yvan is pretty much right; a terminal spike means that the plant's crown isn't going to again produce a new leaf. Once the spike comes from there, the new growth stops. However, there is still hope for a basal keiki. If the roots are healthy, and the plant is otherwise doing well, it may start a new growth crown, in which case it will essentially survive by "cloning" itself.

RosieC · #4 04-14-2009, 06:45 PM

I agree that this sounds like a terminal spike, which unfortunately means the Phal will not grow any more.

I wonder if it is worth using something like Keiki paste on the spike to try and get a Keiki on that.

Vina · #5 04-14-2009, 07:01 PM

Thanks for your answers!

RosieC · #6 04-14-2009, 07:16 PM

Those are really pretty flowers, but I'm afraid it does look like a terminal spike to me.

I've only seen one other and that also had a leaf part way up the spike. I understand that is a trait of terminal spikes (although leaves have also been seen on non-terminal spikes).

The plant looks OK and the roots look OK from what I can see. Keiki paste may help you to get a keiki from the spike but I think it's quite expensive stuff.

Usually I would advise cutting off a spike after it has flowered, but in this case I would advise leaving it on, because even without Keiki paste there is still a chance that a keiki will form naturally on the spike.

As John said it is also possible you will get a basal keiki as the plant looks otherwise healthy.

Baz in Oz · #7 04-14-2009, 07:25 PM

I am not trying to hijack this post but seeing as how a bunch of experienced phal growers are contributing, I have a related question.
When is it safe to remove a basal phal keiki?

Baz in Oz

quiltergal · #8 04-15-2009, 02:19 AM

Baz, you can't really remove a basal Keiki as it never develops a root system that is separate from the parent plant. If the plant (as in the OPs example above) is healthy it can live on for quite some time. Eventually it will begin to die off and the basal Keiki will just take over.

Baz in Oz · #9 04-15-2009, 02:46 AM

Thanks for that Terri.
The good news is that 'mum' appears quite healthy and is throwing out a flower spike as well as the keiki.
What is the expected life span for a phal?

Baz in Oz

Vina · #10 10-27-2009, 09:09 AM

Hi, everybody.
Remeber this one? NOID phal with terminal spike? It surprised me again! I expected basal keiki, but what I got is.... new spike, like it hasn't the terminal one (still in bloom).
wierd, isn't it?
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xKxfV9HrYjU/Sr...0/IMG_7283.JPG