Multiple side spikes while in full bloom. What's going on? - Orchid Board

LadySoren · #1 05-02-2013, 07:34 PM

So a coworker (A) of mine just received a Phal from a friend. (It arrived at work so I got to see it).
It has very tall spikes and very large blooms. I noticed on the next node down, it's doing a side spike. And the I noticed on the other tall spike it is also side spiking!
Then, as I was pointing them out to another coworker (B), we realized the top few nodes on both spikes are all sending off little side spikes!!

Coworker B was all like "wow, it's really happy!" And told me about a rich person with a large green house in Hawaii I think that raised orchids. She seemed to know some stuff about orchids. However, my personal feeling on the matter is tha multiple side spikes at one time without trimming back to a node sounds like trouble. To me, I feel like its going into baby mode to preserve its 'blood line' so to speak. I didn't want to depress anyone by voicing this. Lol

I haven't gotten a good look at the roots yet. I offered to repot it for her after it finishes blooming.

What do YOU think?

Super happy orchid
or
trying to make babies before it dies?

---------- Post added at 07:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:33 PM ----------

PS I left left out that she used to work for said orchid farmer

orchidsarefun · #2 05-02-2013, 09:05 PM

its a REALLY super happy orchid.
There is such a thing as a terminal spike - never seen it, read about it - where the orchid develops a spike from the centre of the plant.............and then unhappily dies. That's probably what you were thinking of.

WhiteRabbit · #3 05-02-2013, 10:05 PM

Some Phals normally get multi-branched spikes. I think if the plant was distressed, it would more likely get keikis on the spike, than branching ...

NYCorchidman · #4 05-02-2013, 10:07 PM

Often plants do what they want to do.
Multi branching in hybrid phals is in their gene. just like breeders mix things up to come up with certain color or larger flowers or smaller plant size...etc.
and speaking of spikes, double spiking phals are also because they are bred for that trait.

So some hybrids will branch more readily than others. yet, even those that are "supposed" to be multi branching do not always do so.

I have lots of phals and some of them just love branching. These are perfectly healthy.

Flower shops usually charge double or triple depending on the number of spikes or abundance of the bloom. I was once given a gift of a single spike phal with multiple branching spikes bearing lots of flowers. I later found out it was sold for a lot more money than typical single spike phal with no branching.

I don't know much about terminal spikes. l do see phals with terminal spike every now and then at a super market plants corner though.
I read negative things about them so never bought one myself but they do look like they have no more room left for any more new leaves to grow since the spike took the place of them. maybe grow basal keikis and start life over?
hmmmm now I'm tempted to get one next time I see one and find out what happens.

WhiteRabbit · #5 05-02-2013, 10:17 PM

I have a Phal with a terminal spike right now. I don't think it's generally a "death sentence" for the plant - but the plant can't grow from the crown anymore - but keikis - basal or on the spike - are likely.

Proof that Phals just don't like me

I've been growing them ok recently, but something else always happens to them

LadySoren · #6 05-02-2013, 10:59 PM

So a terminal spike comes from where a new leaf would? I haven't seen that yet either but I'm still new to orchids.

I'm thinking this baby is going to side-spike (I guess that's what is called branching) from each node it has on the two main spikes if it had the energy to!

I want this orchid so bad now hahaha
I don't think she's going to be able to keep up with it much as I would try to. As I've said, I've offered to repot for her after bloom so maybe she'll just tell me to keep it. Hahaha. Probably not though. Maybe the "ugly" non flowering plant will make her like it less. I feel so guilty for my covetousness right now. I didn't know they can "branch" so much!!

Thanks for your replies!

orchidsarefun · #7 05-02-2013, 11:12 PM

maybe a good strategy is to become friends with her friend and get a similar one........the legal/moral way !

NYCorchidman · #8 05-02-2013, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadySoren

So a terminal spike comes from where a new leaf would? I haven't seen that yet either but I'm still new to orchids.

I'm thinking this baby is going to side-spike (I guess that's what is called branching) from each node it has on the two main spikes if it had the energy to!

I want this orchid so bad now hahaha
I don't think she's going to be able to keep up with it much as I would try to. As I've said, I've offered to repot for her after bloom so maybe she'll just tell me to keep it. Hahaha. Probably not though. Maybe the "ugly" non flowering plant will make her like it less. I feel so guilty for my covetousness right now. I didn't know they can "branch" so much!!

Thanks for your replies!

Yeah, terminal spike is when a spike grows out of from the very center of the crown where the leaves usually grow out of.

Even if you get a phal with multipla side branching spikes, it doesn't mean the plant will always perform that way. but it has the potential to do so.

tucker85 · #9 05-03-2013, 07:58 AM

I think you're correct that the orchid is trying to increase it's chances of reproducing in order to survive. Since the orchid is a recent gift, the change of environment may have stressed the plant enough to cause it to do that. It doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with the orchid. It's just reacting to the environmental change. I grow outdoors is South Florida and often, a little change in the weather can cause phals to develop secondary spikes or branches. It's a natural reaction. That's not to say the orchid isn't producing more flowers because it's happy and has plenty of energy. That can certainly happen also.