Dendrobium Phal Hybrid Protrusion
 

Hey guys - I'm a total dendrobium noobie and this is my first and only phal type dendrobium. I bought it from the rescue rack of my local orchid greenhouse for $5 at the beginning of the year when it was just one backbulb and one sad looking cane.

A few weeks ago, I noticed a nubbin starting to form in the crown of the new cane. In the last few weeks, it hasn't really done much except perhaps get a bit fatter and the tiniest bit taller (less than a millimeter).

What do I have here? Is it the start of a flower spike? Or something nefarious like when a phal puts out a terminal spike? Should I be psyched or disappointed?

Total noobie.

Thanks!

- J

I think it may be the start of a spike but I'm not sure as the pic is not very clear.

The first time I saw one of mine spike it seemed to start doing something in the center like that then I was not sure it was doing anything for ages, it just remained a nubbin, then it got going and grew in to a spike.

Dendrobiums are not like Phals with terminal spikes, it's quite normal for Dens to have a spike from the center of the crown. Dens tend to terminate each crown an an annual basis and they will start new canes.

Dendrobium are call Sympodial orchids which means that they have lots of growth points which terminate when each is fully grown and new ones start. Phals are Monopodial which means only one crown which just keeps going, that's why a terminal spike on a Phal indicates that crown will stop growing and you need to hope it will develop a new basel keiki to keep going.

I'm pretty sure this is/will be a spike. It's alive!

No longer a nubbin, now it's one the move.

Hooray!

How long does it usually take for these types of dend. phals to go from spike to flower?

- J

I can depend a lot. My last one tool several months, but it was early spring and cool so it grew slower. The same plant last year produced one in warmer weather and that took only about a month.

Thanks Rosie -

I think I'm going to have to wait a bit if it's driven largely by temprature... we just hit a cold snap in New England. Temps went from the mid 90s (F) to the mid 60s (F) literally overnight.

Keeping orchids is such a waiting game.

Thanks for the info!

- J