Deformed phalaenopsis stem and buds

[nickelsmum]

This grocery store phal belongs to a friend. It has previously rebloomed - normally, to the best of my friend's recollection. Her orchids are bought as decorations for her ice cream shop and then rotated to her house. The shop is a tough environment with a lot of hot air blowing from the refrigeration equipment. She does not spray with anything; uses weak fertilizer, has terrific success reblooming. Plants are put outdid for a month or two in the summer and this plant may have gotten some pest on it which I suspect is the source of the leaf damage.

I have never seen anything like this bloom stem/buds. It sort of seems proliferative like Rose Rosette Disease. Anyone got any idea? It looks like I have to do some work before I can post a photo. Will do ASAP.

[BettyE]

There is nothing wrong with this orchid, except it needs re-potting. Those roots need to be down in media, so that the plant can get water & fertilizer. Just my opinion...BettyE.

[nickelsmum]

She knows it needs repotting. Please take a closer look at that stem. It is extremely abnormal. Thanks.

[RosieC]

Unfortunately the picture of the stem is not clear, it's focused on the leaf. I'm finding it hard to make out the flower spike.

It looks like it may have branched many times close together, but other than that I can't make anything out.

---------- Post added at 01:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:58 PM ----------

It can be hard to get an automatic focus to pick up a spike, unless it lets you choose where on the picture to focus. If I'm using my small camera I often take several attempts and it's just chance when I get it right.

One method though is to put some card behind it, to hide the leaf behind. That can force the camera to focus on the stem as that's the only bit it can find enough detail in to focus on.

[Cym Ladye]

I suspect this was environmental damage done while the inflorescence and buds were forming: hot air, lack of humidity, dramatic change of temps, light change and the like. It will probably send up a normal spike and normally spaced buds next time.

[nickelsmum]

Yes, I'm sorry about the lousy picture. I actually took a bunch and this one was the clearest. What may be hard to see is that the stem is flattened and widened with grooves. Actually, now that you mention it, I could see this may be several stems and buds that joined instead of separating. If it is just from former difficult environmental conditions, that would be nice there is no need to worry. Thanks to those who have commented so far. If anyone else recognizes this, I'm happy to entertain further ideas.