Leaves growing on Phal nodes while in flower??

[Elizadoo]

My 1st post, and I'm a kind of newbie.

I recently purchased a Phal at the grocery store because I have never seen one in bloom with leaves growing out of the nodes. The largest leaf is about 3/4" while smaller ones are 1/4". They don't look like the pictures of keikis I've seen online; they are more like "wrapped" around the spike, as opposed to growing like a root out of the spike.

Is there anything special I should do, once the flowers (not in the photo) die? Are these leaves indicating any problem with the plant?

Thanks for any help.

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!

Those leaves could turn into keikis... you can't really tell at this point I doubt that it a sign of a problem, but if you can show a photo that includes the pot and medium, it would be possible to advise as to whether a repot is needed. (Phals can be repotted while in bloom if it is done carefully) At this point, just observe... it is possible that a keiki, or a branch on the spike, could emerge at those active nodes. But now, just wait and see what the plant does. Orchids teach patience!

[estación seca]

Almost all plants have a modified leaf called a bract below each flower bud. You could also say leaves are modified bracts... the chicken-egg issue. It's called a subtending bract. In some species they're so small as to be almost invisible. In others they're very large, as in Euphorbia pulcherrima, the poinsettia; its red "petals" are actually enlarged bracts/leaves that intergrade with the green leaves.