Leaves on Flower Spike...but not keiki?

[Mountaineer370]

Welcome to the Orchid Board, Delectable. This is an old thread, but the replies previously given here by numerous long-time, very experienced growers is still valid. There is nothing wrong with your orchid. It looks perfectly healthy in the photos, and the leaves growing along the flower spike just sometimes happen. With proper care, your Phalaenopsis will continue to thrive. Personally, I find it fun when one of my Phals does something interesting like that.

If you like, you could go over to the "Introductions" thread and tell us a little about yourself and the orchids you grow.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...reak-the-ice-/

[Karen00]

Hello fellow orchid lovers.

I just purchased a phal orchid that has one of these odd leaves on the flower spike. Definitely does not look like a keiki. I didn't notice it at first because it was under the clip. In all my years of owning phals I have never had one of these.

I know this thread is old but can any of the people who posted previously comment on what happened to these odd leaves on their plant? Did you keep the spike? The single leaf I have is near the bottom of the spike. It's like the orchid got confused between producing a flower or producing a keiki. It's not a terminal spike This is the oddest thing I have ever seen.

[Roberta]

I have a Phal schilleriana that has done just this... I was waiting for flowers before posting a photo of it. But what it did was send up a spike that sprouted leaves (but no roots). Then it continued into a flower spike. Once it blooms, it'll be a really nice example of the multiple things that a Phal can do at the same time. And it's going to be a really nice bloom so I don't want to move it until the flowers open. I think a week or at most two...

[Karen00]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I have a Phal schilleriana that has done just this... I was waiting for flowers before posting a photo of it. But what it did was send up a spike that sprouted leaves (but no roots). Then it continued into a flower spike. Once it blooms, it'll be a really nice example of the multiple things that a Phal can do at the same time. And it's going to be a really nice bloom so I don't want to move it until the flowers open. I think a week or at most two...

Thanks for your comment. Mine already had a profusion of flowers on the spike when I got it along with this little leaf at the bottom. I just picked it up yesterday and when I went to water it today I noticed this green thing under the clip. I thought one of the regular leaves was caught. When I removed the clip I was like "what the heck is this?" LOL I have attached a pic. I will update this thread with what happens to it. I didn't see any of the previous comments saying what happens to these. I don't think it will become a keiki so do you keep the spike with these leaves?

[Roberta]

Of course keep the spike. The leaves (whether they develop into a keiki or not) aren't harming anything. Phals apparently are quite good at multi-tasking.

[Karen00]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Of course keep the spike. The leaves (whether they develop into a keiki or not) aren't harming anything. Phals apparently are quite good at multi-tasking.

Good point. I wasn't sure if these types of spikes eventually die regardless once all the flowers are done and they just suck energy from the plant to keep the spike just for these weird little leaves. They look so odd. LOL

[Roberta]

Actually, I tend to leave old flower spikes as long as they are green. The plant can re-absorb the moisture, energy, and minerals from the old spike, Once brown and dry, of course it's done. You can cut the old spike sooner if you don't want to look at it, but it does no harm to leave it and it might even do some good.