2 secondary spikes coming out

[fukuchan5459]

Hey all, have a question regarding my phal.

I have a 6 month old phal that I had to repot recently and it is in a vase filled 1/8 with water to give it humidity. I noticed that the longer roots in the potting medium was dead and 4 small green healthy roots were coming out from the 'bulb'.

The phal is not in a medium at this time because the leaves started to dehydrate and droop.

Now, here's my question. Is it normal or OK that the phal is growing 2 separate secondary spikes from 1 older spike? I do not want to cut the spikes off because I don't want to disturb whatever the phal is doing. But can a phal survive with 2 secondary spike on a single older spike?

Sorry I do not have a photo at this time.

[isurus79]

Cut the spike off. It is a HUGE drain on a weak plant and can easily kill it.

Also, you really should pot it up, especially if it is actively putting out new roots.

[james mickelso]

You say the phal has older roots that have died back and a few young short roots? And drooping leaves? And now it is growing secondary spikes from an older inflorescence? Hmmmm. Without a picture, I would say cut off the flower spike and get the plant out of the media-less environment and put it in a nice airy media. Get the plant back to a healthy state and then let it flower. Phals have no pseudobulbs in which to store energy and so it is stored in the leaves. And there is just enough energy in a couple of leaves to produce a small set of flowers and then die. You want flowers? Or a plant? Your choice. Those small new roots need food and the only way to get food to the leaves is to water the roots with fertilizer infused water as often as you can. That means a medium to coarse media so the roots have time to convey the food to the leaves without staying too wet. Hence the coarser media..

[fukuchan5459]

Thank you for the replies.

The reason i haven't put new medium is to make sure the roots do not get stay wet in the night that may encourage rotting.

Thanks guys.