New Spike?

[Kaschmitz]

Is this normal?

[Paphluvr]

No, it's trapped. I've found that if I try to undo something like this I stand a 50/50 chance of breaking the spike. If you attempt it be very careful and make sure you're trying to free the terminal end.

[Shadeflower]

no, it shouldn't even really be physically possible for this to have happened naturally.

It looks like the flower stalk started growing and then someone bent it over back into the leaf fold.

If it really did happen by itself then the tip of the flower stem got stuck in the leaf axil so as it grows it will be anchored in place and form a U-shaped bow.

If you leave it the flowers will die. If you want to save it, you should spray it with some water to loosen the leaves, spray it well and let it soak for an hour. Then gently try to prise the leaves apart an try tugging on the flower stem.

The right side is the side you need to free (the side furthest from the bulb)

[camille1585]

I've seen this happen quite a few times on my plants, when I used to have several Oncidium types. The spike starts growing normally, but then the tip get trapped in the sheath part of the leaf at a very early stage. At it further develops the stem forms the bow shape like you see. Depending on how it is stuck, with lots of patience and delicate fingers you might be able to free it. The first step would be to have a peak in that sheath to see how badly it's stuck. Sometimes it's quite hopeless.

I know we've had discussions here in the past about trapped spikes, and no onw really know why this was happening. One thought is that it could be humidity related.

[Ray]

That is a totally natural, but unfortunate happenstance. Like Camille, I have mostly seen it in oncidium-types, but some phalaenopsis and other genera, as well.

I really don’t think it’s cultural in origin, as when growing many of one particular plant, it can randomly happen even though they’re all being grown the same.

If you try to extricate it by pulling on it, you’re more likely to break it. About the only “help” I’ve ever been successful with - and not 100% - is the split the leaf base, either with a tiny snipper/scissors or by hand.

[Kaschmitz]

Yes! I was able to free it with no damage. Maybe the curve in the spike will straighten out a little.
Thank you all for the help.

[claypot]

Ray is absolutely correct. This is a common occurrence with oncidiinae and careful splitting of the leaf sheath is the only way to free the flower stem. I suggest splitting from the top then sacrifice the leaf Once freed, do not attempt to straighten the stem - you will break it. Let it mature then stake it later. I have found that having had the situation the flower power of the plant is not affected albeit with maybe a crooked stem.

[Shadeflower]

some grumpy old guy just randomly had a right heated exchange with me about god knows what yesterday and I think he put a curse on me.

Fingers crossed I managed to save it

[Roberta]

clearly no curse... Gentle fingers and some luck, you got it loose. I have had that sort of thing happen fairly often, mostly with Oncidiinae - Oncidiums and Miltonias especially. The tricky part often is figuring out which way it is growing so that the correct end (the distal end) is where you do the work. It has its head tucked into its nether end, so you have to figure out which is the head... usually not obvious, but once you have it your odds greatly improve. Well done!