Number of spikes on a phal

[Algyros]

Is the number of spikes on a given phal determined by cultural conditions or genetics? Or, stated another way, is there a genetic maximum that can be achieved or not based on cultural conditions and does this genetic maximum vary from variety to variety.

I ask because some of my phals have one spike while others have more and I'm curious as to why.

[kmarch]

Both are factors. A poorly grown phal will not flower to its full potential. On the other hand, even the best culture/conditions can't make a phal bloom beyond what it is capable. For most of the more commonly found complex pink or white hybrid phals, the most number of spikes I have seen on a single plant has been around 3-5. 1-3 is much more commonly found though. I knew a fantastic grower in Michigan that had, I think it was a Phal Orchid World that had about 8 branching spikes one time at a show. Some species phals spike like mad. I saw a Phal venosa today, just a small plant, that had 3 spikes (about 15 flowers) and I have seen species like Phal pulchra, large specimens with like a dozen spikes. I've seen Phal pulcherrima with spike counts in the 4-6 range. There's quite a bit of variation in the number of spikes with both species and hybrids and even between different specimens of the same species or grex.