Phalaenopsis forming a new spike or root?
 

Hi I have just bought a new miniature Phalaenopsis and it has two spikes already in bloom. I have just noticed that there is a new growth forming at the base of the plant and I'm not sure whether it is a new root or a new shoot. I will enclose a pic. I would appreciate your advice so please could someone let me know what to expect.

Hi, I see this is your first post so *Welcomes* come first ;)

I can't see the bit that you mean on the full shot but, if it's coming out lower than where the flower spikes are at the moment, it's likely to be a root. If it's coming from a leafbract above where the second spike is, it may be another spike. The chances are it's a root, but you should be able to tell by the shape as well - a new spike looks flat-rounded at the tip (often described as 'mitten' shaped) whereas a root will be more pointed and have a silvery colour as it grows......

It looks really pretty, I can see why you bought it :)

Unfortunately, the pic i wanted to upload refuses to upload. i get a 301 error message every time i try to send it. it is a really clear close up shoot of the new growth but i just don't seem to be able to get it uploaded. i will try again - i'm a beginner i'll sort it out eventually.

Jennyfleur I have finally manged to get it uploaded and it's clear. i think then that it is probably a root judging by what you said before but that's o.k. the two spikes are currnently still producing buds so i'll have plenty of flowers for a while yet. Thanks for your help.

Yep, a new root.

Al

thanks for that Al. i was so sure that it was a new spike. Oh well, i'll just have to be happy with what i've already got. Many thanks.:)

I agree that it's a root. Very pretty plant!

New root, spikes start out looking more like a mitten.

New root, but that sure is a pretty phal!!!!

Yes i am very proud of my little phal. it is very pretty if i do say do myself!! It was very cheap too - £5.00.

Glad you managed to get the close-up posted in the end! Not that you need anyone else to say so, but it is a root. Roots, both aerial and potted are a sign of a nice healthy happy plant, so don't be too disappointed. When that first spike comes, you'll know it ;)

Welcome to Orchid Board :welcomeflowers:

I would say that phal could do with repotting. I don't like the moss in those tight flexible pots. You see them a lot in the UK on mini phals sold in the supermarkets.

In that last picture the moss looks old and it WILL be VERY tightly packed from my experience of buying these. That could suffocate the roots quite quickly. Repotting when you have root growth is a good time to do it.

I've experimented with these a bit, because while I have 20+ phals growing well, the ones sold like this have caused me some problems. The latest is doing well, and with that I re-potted immediately I got it into a medium that I could keep moist most of the time, but still allow a lot of air to the roots.

I used lecca in this case, but I think loose moss would also do quite well. While usually I would avoid moss the ones sold like this did not like the drastic change to bark in my experience (which is what I usually grow in). Their roots seem to be adapted to wet growing, but the moss they are growing in is too tight packed to also let the roots breath.

Unfortunately if you re-pot you also risk loosing the flowers, although my latest one didn't and you don't always. However the 3 like this I bought and didn't take straight out of the existing moss died within a month of root rot. A couple of others survived longer having been re-potted in bark, but their roots didn't really like that drastic change. That's why I've come to the conclusion that Lecca kept fairly wet or moss kept damp but not sodden is the best thing for these.