New flower spike or not???

[Purplerain]

I was wondering if this at the bottom of my orchid was a flowe spike even if it's curling into the plant if not what is it???!!!! See attachment

[Mountaineer370]

That looks similar to what one of my phals did last year. The new spikes looped back into the plant and got themselves all twisted up like pretzels, and even punched right through the leaf above. I ended up with three flowers, but each one was on a spike not more than an inch or two long.

I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of replies you get here!

[Purplerain]

Thanks for the reply never heard of that happening before couldn't find anything about it anywhere

[jkofferdahl]

I've seen this happen from time to time, usually when the plant is somehow deficient in some area of need. Determining the area of need is your next exploration.

[MasonV]

I had this happen to one of my phals recently. I ended up just cutting the spike because it was growing right back into the stem and I didn't want it to damage the crown. Mine was shorter though, so if you are super careful you may be able to bend it and train it away from the stem, otherwise I would just cut it...

[Dollythehun]

If you cut it, it will probably respike.

[Mountaineer370]

When it happened to mine, I did try to very gently straighten it, but it snapped right off. It did end up respiking from that crooked one, and a couple other places, but they all seemed intertwined and stayed very short. That same plant looks to be developing two different spikes on either side of the plant right now, so it will be interesting to see if they are normal or not.

Purplerain, how long have you had the plant, and has it bloomed for you normally before?

[Purplerain]

I've had it for a year now and no it's not spiked properly yet I've tried lots of different things, had it in a high light area but it was too much leaves were burning now moved to a west facing window behind a net curtain but no joy feed it regularly? Do not over water?

[estación seca]

Phals are not high-light plants. Red pigment on the tops of the leaves often means they are light-stressed. (Many normally have red pigment under the leaves.) I heard Alan Koch, a grower from Sacramento, California, tell our club they bloom much better in lower light than higher. Move it to a place where your hand casts a blurry, indistinct shadow.

[Purplerain]

Thank you