Anyone have experience with a terminal spike? I'm nervous.

[estación seca]

Plants have a terminal meristem, the tiny ball of actively dividing cells that continues to form new stem and leaves. There is normally at least one meristem in the leaf axil at each leaf, as well, which can form flower spikes or new growths.

When the terminal meristem forms a bloom spike, there is nothing left to continue growing leaves. That is it for that growth, unless a meristem in one of the lower leaf axils starts growing.

The most dramatic example of this is in genus Agave, where once the rosette flowers, it dies. New offsets form from the base on some species but not on others.

[charitysmama]

I have an orchid with a terminal spike and around the base there are other plants starting to grow. I can see at least two. I don't know if I will eventually have to divide the plant and try to get roots for everybody or leave it alone.

[turock]

Originally Posted by estación seca

When the terminal meristem forms a bloom spike, there is nothing left to continue growing leaves. That is it for that growth, unless a meristem in one of the lower leaf axils starts growing.

The most dramatic example of this is in genus Agave, where once the rosette flowers, it dies. New offsets form from the base on some species but not on others.

Pineapples do this, too. Thanks for the information!

[Jenzinger]

Hi,

have a terminal flower stem in one of my orchids. It finished blooming and I kept taking good care of the plant. This included moving it to semi-hydroculture in expanded clay/lava rock. It gave it a boost of new root growth and now it has produced new leaves from the side of the main stem. Looks like it is not yet finished! So in your case I would just be patient!

There is one oddity (see pictures): it has made a flower branch from the main flower stem and this also occurred in what looks like two small leaves that had formed first at the branch site. Now it is actually making two new spikes, one from the old flower stem branch!