Phalenopsis flowering help

[Tindomul]

Hi all, I have a Phalenopsis species, the type that gives big white moth type flowers.
On the spike, there seems to be growing another spike?? Is this possible, or is something else? More improtantly, this growth began about two months ago and it seems to be stunted. Could this be because its not happy, is missing something, what should I do??

Thanks all.

I tried to take pix, but my camera wont focus on it.

[nyorchids]

phals can have numerous ammounts of spikes it could also be a new root. they look similar when they come out! spikes will make an initial growth and then rest

[Tindomul]

Thanks, I was worried I was doing something wrong.
I water the plant with a mix of distilled water and spring water, the distilled which I get very very cheap makes up the better bulk of the mix.
The plant seems to be growing a new leaf. Though its slow work for them.

[nyorchids]

watch how much distilled you use it really leaches out the nutrients out of the plant. try rain or reverse osmosis with allitle tap water in it. i use tap every other water my ppm is 200

[Sandra Billeter]

The position on the original spike is also important. If it is coming out of one of the "nodes" below the blooms, it is probably another spike as in the multi-phal group. This should produce additional buds and blooms. If it is coming out of the spike amongst the buds and blooms, it could be the "meristem" and they can grow to about an inch or so. This is what is used for the tissue source in "mericloning" and they don't produce flowers.

Sandra in South Carolina

[Tindomul]

Here is a picture of the plant. I am little confused about what you ment by nodes.
The growth is about an inch long though.

[Oscarman]

There are 2 pictures of a node (on a Phal) in the Lexicon, one with the growth bud exposed.

It looks to me like a branch growing from an upper node on the flower spike. It also looks like you are growing a seed capsule. I would cut off any extra growth that is trying to develop so that the plant can direct all it's energy into the capsule.

[Tindomul]

Thanks. I think that is a seed pod. How do I deal with that??

[Sandra Billeter]

I think you have a branch in the spike coming out of a node and a seed capsule on the tip of the spike. Dealing with a seed capsule is a long and complex explanation so I suggest you get a copy of Ortho's "All About Orchids" and read up on it. It is fairly inexpensive and the big box stores usually have it and it is a good basic book. I myself am just not interested in going through the 5 to 7 years to get your first blooms and dealing with the sterile conditions necessary for seed propagation. If you aren't interested in pursuing that, I'd cut the seed capsule off since it is probably draining most of the growth energy from the plant. That could also be why the branch hasn't grown any more. About every 4 to 6 inches up the spike, there will be circular structures around the spike. These are the nodes. If you are going to cut the capsule off, I'd go to the node above where the branch comes out (toward the bloom) and cut the spike about 1/2 inch above that node. This way your branch may continue to grow and produce some more flowers for you. Good luck.

Sandra in South Carolina

[Tindomul]

Thanks. Im gonna read up on it and make a decision. Meanwhile, you guys can make certain that its a branch by viewing my newest pics. I learned how to focus. At least I hope I learned how, and that these pics weren't a happy accident.