need a little help...what's growing out of this spike?

[cutie_monster]

i have a phal in spike & i'm trying to stake it up in a way to showcase the flowers, but i'm having some trouble trying to figure out where the buds are. doh! here's a pic of what i'm working with:


Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr

1st node


Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr

2nd node


Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr

3rd & 4th nodes, growing tip. the 4th node looks like the only bud on the stem so far.


Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr

this is how it is staked right now.


Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr

i thought those bottom nodes were going to be flowers; that is why its staked in that position. but now upon further investigation, i'm pretty sure those are not buds but something else. maybe keikis on nodes 1 & 3? i think at node 2, there is a secondary branch. what is going on? thank you in advance for any suggestions. brandy

[tucker85]

It looks to me like there's going to be a flower spike with one or more branches on it. Once the branches grow out, buds should form along each branch. That may mean that you're going to get more flowers than you initially thought. Don't worry too much about manipulating the spike. Give it normal care and hopefully you'll have a bunch of nice flowers.

[escualida]

I think you've got it staked pretty well right now, it looks like it's branching like crazy, do post pics when it finally flowers.

[cutie_monster]

thank you tucker & escuilida.