The little Phal who could...

[Optimist]

So this is a purplish-yellowish (looks a bit tomato soup colored in the right light) mini NOID Phal who is blooming for a second time on the first spike. I knew that phals could re-bloom on a new shoot off the main stalk, but not on the main stalk where the old flowers had been. It also put out a new leaf. It must be high on life, right? I was going to cut the spike off but it had developed some "mitten" shapes so I just let it alone, and it bloomed again! Cool, eh? It is one of the semi hydro in lava rock phals I have. Any way I think it is neat that flowers can bloom on a stalk again. I probably should have cut it off, but I thought I would see what happened if I didn't... By the way, more mittens are forming, I am wondering if it will bloom a third time. Weird freak of nature, right?

View of first flower:

Back view of stalk and buds:

[magicatt]

Cute! Just let it do what it does. I like it.

[NYCorchidman]

This is quite common actually.
More bloom is always welcome, isn't it?

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

This is quite common actually.
More bloom is always welcome, isn't it?

Thanks for saying. Needless to say, I will not be cutting off spikes any longer unless the plant is in distress.

[MrHappyRotter]

A lot of growers specifically caution against cutting phal spikes after the blooms are done for this very reason. Many hybrids will either continue growing at the end of the spike and produce more buds or start growing branches to the spike and can continue to bloom at various times throughout the year.

I normally cut the spikes off though. It tends to encourage them to hold off on blooming, until they're ready to commit to growing a full spike, and that means when they do bloom I get the whole show.

There are some that only produce a handful or fewer flowers at a time, those I leave the spikes alone and let them do their own thing. Cutting the spike doesn't make much of a difference in terms of getting more flowers at the same time.

[Tindomul]

Very nice!!!

[My Green Pets]

I hope mine do this!

[RosieC]

Cool, they do sometimes do this.

[Optimist]

Considering I just have orchids for my own pleasure and hobby, It's okay by me if they are not "show flower" perfect. The other little buds are now preparing to bloom, and I have a second spike of my odontonia maturing as well. Not a ton of flowers this year, but reading the advice given in this forum has been very beneficial to my orchids. I am glad the Orchid Board exist! By the way I am about to order about 9 new orchids-- a huge haul.

[SnowFalcon]

so pretty Awesome job