I would like to talk about "terminal spikes" on phals

[JScott]

Recently a number of people have posted on here just devastated that their phal has a terminal spike.

First, let's talk about the word "terminal". The dictionary says, "of, forming, or situated at the end or extremity of something.". That's all that word means. When you're at the airport and you go to the terminal to catch your plane, you are going to the end of that part of the airport where you can go no further until you get on a plane. The terminal is the end of an airport wing. You don't worry about the possibility of dying if you go to the terminal at the airport.

Regarding plants, "terminal" just means the end of the plant, the point from which new growth occurs. Sympodial orchids like Cattleyas have multiple terminuses. Everywhere a new growth starts, that's a terminus. When the growth develops, the little nub at the top of the pseudobulb where the leaf attaches to the bulb is the terminus of that growth. That's the end of that growth. It won't grow from from there anymore, unless it blooms.

With monopodial orchids, they typically have one terminus, which is the place where new leaves grow. That's the end of the upright stem. Sometimes, instead of producing leaves, a Phal will produce a flower spike from where the leaves usually come. That plant has produced a flower spike at the terminus of the plant rather than a leaf. That doesn't mean the plant is going to die. When you have a terminal illness, that illness will bring you to the end of your life and you will die. That is not the way the word "terminal" is used when talking about Phals and terminal spikes. It just means that a flower spike has formed at the terminus, or end, of the plant rather than a leaf.

Phals and other sympodial orchids have dormant buds or eyes all along the stem at the base of the leaves. These are where flower spikes usually grow. You can see this in Phals and in Vandas too.

When a Phal produces a terminal spike, that means that the plant will no longer be able to grow leaves from the terminus of the plant. That is not a problem. Those dormant buds at the bases of the leaves can and will grow into not just flower spikes, but also new shoots with leaves. This is what will happen when you have a terminal spike. Where flower spikes typically emerge, you will eventually see a new shoot with leaves emerging. This is how the plant will continue to grow and survive. It will branch out and form a new terminus.

So there it is. If your plant produces a terminal spike, that is not a death sentence. In fact it is more likely than not that the plant will grow a new shoot, and thus a new terminus, from lower down on the stem. It may even grow more than one, and you'll get a nice little clump with multiple growth points on the same plant. This is delightful.

Next time you see a terminal spike do not despair. This is a normal, common thing that happens, and your plant is not going to die. Your plant will continue to grow and bloom, just from a different direction than before.

So don't be afraid of terminal spikes. They can actually improve your plant by causing it to grow multiple new shoots and forming a nice little clump, and more growth points can mean more flower spikes.

So that's all I've got to say about that. Terminal spikes are not sad or scary the way terminal brain cancer is. Your plant with a terminal spike is going to be just fine.