Phal spike with no buds in the bracts
 

I have a Dtps Purple Gem (coerulea type) that put out 2 spikes in June. The spikes developed nicely, but something very strange happened. The lower 3-4 bud bracts on each spike never developed a bud inside them. It's not that they blasted at very young stage, they simply never appeared! The top of the spikes are fine, there's nice buds there. Anybody ever heard of this, or know what causes it? I've never ever had a Phal do this until now.

Probably the heat. June is late for flowering on a Phal.

I find every variety of orchid is prone to produce less flowers when stressed.

It was quite hot in june when the spike was forming and the plant was outside then, but July (when the buds were forming) was very very cool, mostly below 65F. Do you think that heat early in the growth of the spike could still have that effect?

With the very strange weather we had in Europe this spring/summer most of my Phals set spikes in June or July, instead of September, which is when I usually see spikes.

I'm not sure quite what you mean. Mine always seem to have some lower nodes without buds. I'm not sure what a bud bracts without a bud would look like that's different to what I see every time :scratchhead:

A normal bract on the stem is flat against it. If you look at the flowers, you see a bract at the base of the pedoncule and it sticks out from the stem. They protect the young buds as they develop. Except on my plant some have no bud in it (and still stick out). I can take a pic after work if you want.

Ah, see what you mean.

Yes I have seen them sticking out 1 or 2 below the lowest bud on occasion. Not sure what causes it, but there have been times I was convinced a bud was starting then it did nothing till higher on the stem. I've also had those later produce side spikes after the first buds started forming, one of mine spiking at the moment did that. 3 sticking out bracts below the first flower bud started growing side spikes a short while after the buds started forming. It should be a great display if they all flower!