Multiple oddities during flowering season
 

Hi everybody! I'm new to OB and this is my first post. I've had 4 phals for three years and have had really great luck with them. I keep them in an eastern facing window. Each year they grow leaves during the summer and fall and then flower in January.

But this year has been bizarre! They are doing all sorts of things that they're not "supposed to" do, as far as I know anyway, such as:

1. All 4 plants that spiked in January still have blooms on them 4 months later. And 3 of them look like they might go into June as well. I thought phal blossoms usually last only 3 months or so. Not that I'm complaining! But I am curious.

2. One plant that spiked in January and still has open blossoms also still has buds that haven't opened yet. The buds look healthy; they're just opening v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y.

2. The same plant is starting to have some of its open flowers wilt and drop even though some buds haven't opened yet.

3. Several plants grew new leaves while blooming. I thought those were two separate processes in the growth cycle.

4. Another plant started growing a new leaf while flowering and then started yet another new leaf when the first new leaf was only 1 inch long. (Thanks to OB, I've already located a thread that said that was a sign of stress, and sure enough, I discovered today that it's got some root rot going on. Thanks for the tip, OB-ers!)

Now, if you can shed any light on these goings-on, I'd really appreciate it.

Welcome to Orchid Board Oakrose :welcome:

Most of that sounds normal. Odd weather (temps going up and down) can cause blooms to last longer, or not as long, or be early or late... basically the temps and daylight can cause all sort of odity with the blooms.

I have ones with buds opening slowly and other flowers on the same plant wilting this year. Again I think it's down to cold days and really warm days and the weather not really knowing what it's doing.

The longest I've had a phal hold the same blooms is 6 months. Your one holding the flowers longer must be liking the conditions, but it's quite possible for them to hang on a long time.

They can easily grow spikes, roots & leaves all at the same time if they are happy. I have ones that are doing that. Again weather can play a part, if the spikes are set late in the autumn, or if a cold spell causes them to set in the spring (or other time of year). Generally they grow from spring to Autumn (most in the spring) and colder weather triggers spikes to start, but cold spells at any time of year can trigger spikes.

The last one is the only one of concern I think, and it sounds like you've already got some advice on that. There should be lots of information around here on how to try and recover it, but just ask if you need more specific advice on it :)

Thanks for your response, Rosie. It's good to know these behaviors are normal and are even an indication that they're happy.