Help I hurt my Phal's spike...
 

Hello everyone....I am new to your board and of course here with a question that necessitates me finding some help.

I have a phal in spike and it has been doing well until today... I deceided to move a clip on the spike and I heard a "snap", "oh, $#%&" was the next sound.

So, it appears that the spike broke maybe half way though but when I let it go it totally closed back so that the wound it not exposed at all.

My question is should I just leave it be and see how the spike does over the next few days, or should I cut it down to the next node and hope for a new one. Any advice would be greatly appriciated as I am totally upset over this.

Thank you for your help,
Garnet

Welcome to OB!

Well these things happen. If it were me I would wait and see. If it looks like it is dieing back then remove it to about a 1/2 inch above the node.

Happens to alot of people a few times. Most annoying part of the hobby - I know.

It doesn't kill the plant off, if that's what you're worried about.

Ted has the answer. Just do as directed.

More importantly...

How are the roots doing?

Just wanted to say welcome to the OB! I agree, doesn't hurt to see what happens.

Thank you all for your info and for easing my frustration with myself over this, it's much appriciated.

@Ted- Thank you for your advice, I am going to follow your route on it. Maybe I'll be lucky and the spike will hold on, we shall see. Thanks again.

@Philip- Thanks for also letting me know that I am not alone in this mishap. I never had any fear of the plant itself dying or anything, it is doing really good, it's also been putting on a new leaf at the same time it developed the spike, roots are nice and happy.

@Angela- Thanks for the welcome... much appriciated.

-Garnet

well, put it in water and maybe the buds will open for you yet....dont dispair, it will bloom again!

Yeah, we've all done it and it's sooo frustrating.

Don't worry, just give it good care (you can get lots of advice on that here) and it will bloom again for you.

Thank you "Dounoharm" and "RosieC", no change on the spike as of tonight.

I was out of town overnight and checked the chid out as soon as I got home, but no real visible change yet.

Just waiting now to see what happens, this must be why I have ended up having orchids, I am not the most patient person, and I think somebody is trying to teach me something here...LOL!

-G

A very similar thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago. The emerging flower spike of my phal was touching the window. I moved the phal to water it and the top tip of the spike snapped off completely. A few choice words followed!!

I was gutted as it is my favourite phal and when it last bloomed it had around 35 (scented) blooms.

Anyway, since the mishap, I was amazed to find around a week later that a new flower 'branch' has emerged from the broken tip. Amazing!! The spike must have broken off next to a node and the shoot from that node has taken over as the leading tip of the spike.

I am looking forward to another great display of blooms in the next month or so. Don't give up on your's!

Mossmac

Thanks Mossmac!! I haven't given up.

The chid is doing well, the injured spike is going ahead and developing it's buds, it is developing five/six right now, so he is a trooper and going to continue with the current spike....yaaay!!

When he blooms I will post pics.