What to do with Doritaenopsis with terminal spike

[Anthony]

This is the first orchid I've bought online, a Doritaenopsis Everyspring Prince Harlequin. It came with a terminal spike.



I did sent an complaint to the shop but it appears they "ignored" the real issue with this reply.

Dear Anthony,

Thankyou for your feedback. We have found that Phal plants with terminal spikes do indeed continue to flower.

regards,

(I didn't ask if it continues to flower, I said it won't grow any leaves ...)

What should I do with it, should I treat it with KeikiBoost to force keiki's? Should I then only treat the lower nodes or all of them?

[tuvoc]

Hi Anthony. I'd leave it alone. Just take good care of it, and let it do what it wants to do. The plant looks good, and the flowers are really nice.

Kim

[libby]

I don't know, Anthony. I just received this same plant about a month ago, so I am pretty sure I know where you got it and how much you paid for it. Taking that into consideration, I would be very upset if I received such a plant. I have never had a terminal spike personally, but from what I understand, it's a "maybe it will bloom again and maybe not" sort of thing. I think I would pursue either a refund or a new plant. Good luck.

[Ray]

I think the vendor took the opportunity to unload it from his stock so he's not stuck with it for a while (product turnover being key to commercial success).

That plant will likely not continue to grow or bloom again. However, it looks reasonably healthy, so will likely sprout a new growth from the base that will be "normal". The only problem is that it delays the time until the next blooms.

[quiltergal]

You are looking at at least 2 years minimum (assuming it puts out a basal Keiki) before it blooms again. I would request a replacement or a refund.

[sweetjblue]

Try looking here:

Big Leaf Orchid forum • View topic - What causes this....

I had this very same problem. The plant in question ended up growing 2 basal keikis neither of which has flowered yet so I'm not sure if the advice will/has worked.

Hope this helps answer some of the questions you may have.

[Anthony]

Okay so reading everyone's comment the best choice seems to be to just leave it alone until it grows a basal keiki and then remove it from the mother as soon as it can live on it's own.

I have contacted the nursery again on tuesday but haven't heard from then yet.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Okay so reading everyone's comment the best choice seems to be to just leave it alone until it grows a basal keiki and then remove it from the mother as soon as it can live on it's own.

Nope. Basal growths tend to be vegetative offshoots from the existing root system, so cannot be separated.

Basically, you'll have a single plant with two growths on it - one with the apical meristem no longer functioning, and the new one that will be normal. Eventually the old one will die and you plant will return to looking normal.

[Anthony]

Thanks Ray, I'll just let it be and let him decide what to do.

(Still no reply from the shop and I don't think they will bother to reply ..., I've seen that I'm not the only one with a problem with that store: Problem Buying Orchids Online)

[Orchid313]

I had a Doritanopsis that also bloomed from the center. It never made any new plantlets and eventually died. I saw a Q&A on aos.org and they too indicated that this behavior probably will result in the death of the plant. So sorry, hope you have better luck. You should also post the name of the person who sold you this plant!