Strange hooked spike adds 2 spindly spikes!

[paamul]

I posted earlier about this strange hooked spike and it at the time this orchid seemed to compensate by growing a thin side spike. Someone suggested that the hook might just stop growing. Another said it would correct it self.

It is getting less "hooked", but is now developing a 3rd spike on the original. (Another "compensatory" spike?) I don't think I can do anything about it but I may end up with very thin spikes and few flowers.

By the way, this orchid has been in bloom on its old spike since last June. It has two blooms and another small bud on the original spike, and had a new leaf come in a month ago. Is this "Superorchid" gone bad?

[Connie Star]

I have one doing something similar- what type of orchid is it?
And, welcome to OB!

[paamul]

Thanks for your reply and welcome words, Connie.
It's a phal hybrid. And I just noticed that it has a
3rd thin spike coming from near the crook of the curve. (You can just see it in the blurry photo). I'm tempted to cut the original thick spike that is
still blooming! Maybe this plant is just doing too much at one time. It really looks like I'm going to have multiple spikes that are thin and I'm guessing that these won't produce the beautiful blooms of a
thick spike. Is this right? IDEAS?

[Phal grower]

As long as the plant is healthy I would just let it do it's thing. It might turn out better than expected.

[paamul]

Thanks, Phalgrower, I'll watch it for awhile. I'm just
concerned because this phal is doing so much at one time. Blooming, growing a new leaf, and sending out a hooked spikes with 3 spikes growing from it. I'm new at this but this is quite weird.

[Ray]

If the plant has the resources to do all of that on its own, what are you worried about?

[camille1585]

Side spikes are never as thick and floriferous as the main one, and cutting off the top of the main one will not improve anything.
It's actually quite normal for several side spikes to be appearing. When the growing tip is damaged or removed, it changes the balance of the different hormones in the stem, and this change 'wakes up' many of the dormant nodes.

But as Ray says, the plant obviously has the energy to do all that it is doing. So why mess with it if the plant is healthy?

[RosieC]

I would just let it do it's thing. As Camille says side spikes are usually thinner and I would just see how it progresses.

[paamul]

Thanks Ray, Rosie and Camille for your input. Since I haven't seen this hook or side spikes before I was concerned that the plant was just doing too much. I appreciate your help and will let the poor thing alone! I'll send photos when the blooms come in...and if the spike straigtens (which is seems to be doing bit by bit). I'll then have 4 thin spikes and one old spike. This could be fun if I just relaxed....lol