Phal NoID help....insane blooms and foliage behavior!

[TiffanyP]

Can anyone tell me what this Phal could be crossed with? I had to have it because this has to be the most bizarre orchid I've had. Not to mention that the second spike is growing from the center of the foliage with a strange leaf growing a few inches from the bottom, and I have been told that Phals wont do that. Is that true? This thing is wild!

[RosieC]

It's what's known as peloric . It's a mutation where the petals mimic the lip. Quite common, some are stable (they happen every time it flowers) others will flower normally next time. Many people seek them out as pretty :-)

[RosieC]

Unfortunately the center spike is not such good news:-( its known as a terminal spike and means the plant will not grow more leaves from the center. However it may still form a basil keiki which can grow up to replace the main plant. I wouldn't worry to much and would just see how it goes.

[TiffanyP]

Does that mean I'll never get to see this flower again after this bloom? That makes me sad I never really thought that could be the case with that center and it makes sense but I bet if my excitement was restrained it would've occurred to me. I actually think it is pretty also so I think maybe I'll web it and see what I find as well. Thank you for the info so now I know all though I like them to avoid them.

[TiffanyP]

Oh sorry I got the second part. I really enjoy this crazy look so I hope hope hope it flowers more. Do you think I should treat it differently to ensure it's health?

[RosieC]

Just treat as normal :-)

[POLKA]

Hey Tiff
nice phal
if the roots are as healthy as the plant appears, and the potting mix is not mush, your plant will grow somewhere from the base, and will bloom on schedule next year. Yeah, the new flower stem from the terminal means that particular part will stop growing. But it has many buds from which to grow again.

Happy growing
Rex

[camille1585]

And to add to the info already given, the main plant can keep producing spikes, until it has run out of leaf axils to bloom from.