Phal has one bloom, 2 tiny buds, new spike

[paamul]

I'm not sure what I should do with this Phal Hybrid. It has been blooming since June of last year and it's now January. It had a beautiful spray of 9-10 bloom which lasted months and dropped one at a time But there was a bud at the end and it has bloomed and at the side of that bloom, it has put out 2 more new buds. It also has a new spike developing. No new leaves have grown. I'm enjoying the lovely bloom but I'm concerned about the new spike not bearing as many blooms as this one. Should I cut this still blooming spike in favor of the new one? Or can I just enjoy the new blooms...albeit one at a time and still expect a decent amount of blooms from the new spike?

[RosieC]

I would just enjoy the flowers if that's what it wants to do. This time of year is often the flowering time, growth is more likely spring/summer as the weather get's warmer.

It is likely the new spike will have less flowers, but I would still just enjoy them if it was mine.

[paamul]

Thanks for replying...it makes sense. I really didn't want to cut the flower and buds off but did want to encourage a nice new spike bloom.

[bballr4567]

Well, if you cut off the one that has the flower, it might respike from that spike as well. Kind of a damned if you do, damned if you dont. I'd just let it live out the blooms as it has to be a healthy plant that wants to show off.

[Connie Star]

I agree. Phals will flower for a long time and they will often re-spike from an old spike.
And, Welcome to OB!

[paamul]

Thanks bball and Connie...guess I'll just enjoy the blooms...

[Gage]

Congrats on the long blooming! Just a little tidbit, I would make sure you're giving it some kind of low nitrogen fert like a "bloom booster". This much blooming can deplete the leaves of whatever stored energies it has, if it hasn't been properly fertilized. Enjoy!

[lostonthebeach]

I may be wrong (I often am) but I think that growth in the 2nd photo is a root, not a flower spike. So don't cut your old flower spike.

[paamul]

Thanks for replying. I am giving it a weak mix of orchid fertilizer with each watering. And Mike, I know that my photo wasn't very good, but under the leaf there is a spike (little mitten with a joint showing, to the naked eye, perhaps not so evident in my photo). To the left of it there is a root.

At this point, I think I'll let things play out for awhile and see what happens. Could it be that I have a neverending bloom? I'll watch this one closely.

Thanks all for the welcomes!

[lostonthebeach]

[QUOTE=paamul;467380]Thanks for replying. I am giving it a weak mix of orchid fertilizer with each watering. And Mike, I know that my photo wasn't very good, but under the leaf there is a spike (little mitten with a joint showing, to the naked eye, perhaps not so evident in my photo). To the left of it there is a root.

As I said, I am often wrong.
Good luck and keep posting photos.