What is this? - Orchid Board

Orquiadicto · #1 08-23-2011, 03:29 PM

Can anyone tell me what this can be?
It started growing on this secondady spike at the same time as the flowers. I don't know what it can be because it doesn't grow out of a knod, but between 2 knods. Here's a pic so you can see it.

Gage · #2 08-23-2011, 03:42 PM

Looks like another secondary spike coming from a node. I would cut the entire spike off to give energy to leaf and root growth, since it has already bloomed twice on the same spike. Good luck!

camille1585 · #3 08-23-2011, 03:55 PM

Agree with the above. The plant's been forced once to rebloom, and it might be a bit much for it to force it a second time. You'd probably get very few blooms on it anyway, so it's much better to cut the spike off entirely. Then you can look forward to a new spike on the plant once it has recovered some energy.

Orquiadicto · #4 08-23-2011, 04:05 PM

Can a secondary spike grow between two nods? I yhought they always grew out of nods.

camille1585 · #5 08-23-2011, 04:08 PM

Looks like there is node there, I can see the bract at the base of the spike. It's not possible for it to grow between two nodes because there is no meristem tissue there. On spikes it's only in the nodes or at the tip of the spike.

Orquiadicto · #6 08-25-2011, 06:15 PM

I don't think I'll cut off the spike. If you look carefully, whatever it is, is NOT growing out of a knod, but BETWEEN two knods. I'll try to make a better picture, so you see it better.
I'll just leave it there and see what happens. I'll ejoy the blooming on my other phals.

Bud · #7 08-25-2011, 06:25 PM

its still summer, phals need to grow leaves and delvelop roots...chances are, you will just get bud blasts from this and waste the plant's energy...you should listen to the good advice of the senior members...the plant needs to concentrate on leaf and root growth to provide you in the colder months with a full big healthy boom...I would rather have good healthy blooms than small mediocre ones...

cythaenopsis · #8 08-25-2011, 06:33 PM

I had a phal that started with about 6-7 flowers (4 on one spike, 3 on the other--it is a double phal). After it finished blooming last winter, I continued a watering regimen but did not prune. When spring came around, I ended up with 15 flowers and they were about the same size as the first time. Once the flowering was done this time, the spikes started to yellow and brown. I cut them back this time.

From what I gather, some sub species of phals seem to benefit from pruning after a first bloom on new spikes while others seem to be fine with being left alone for a 2nd bloom. I don't have any idea as to how you determine this, except by letting the plant go through a blooming cycle to see how it behaves. Who knows... maybe if I had pruned, there would have been even more flowers? I don't know... I was still quite happy with what the plant did. Natural is always a good way to go.

Orquiadicto · #9 09-03-2011, 06:31 AM

Finally I decided to follow your wise advice and I've just cut the entire spike. I'll let the plant concentrate on root and leaf grow and hope I'll get a strong and beatifull blooming when time comes.