My phal. seems to have had a baby

[ladybbugs62]

I bought a phal orchid approx two years ago complete with flower spike and flowers. Once the flowers died, I fully expected a new set at the next season. Instead i got what looked like leaves just at the beginning where the old flowers started. The leaves are now pretty big (6 -7 inches) and there are roots about 1 1/2 inch long. I called Norman's Orchids...(long distance!) and was instructed to cut the spike off and pot it and then the guy hung up. Not very helpful. The spike is pretty long! About 20 inches or so. It will not fit in a regular pot.

Can anyone give me some direction? The plant seems otherwise healthy and the parent plant has new growth after what appeared to be a dormant phase when only the baby seemed to be growing. It has NOT flowered during the whole time that this new orchid has been growing. I don't see any evidence that a new flower spike will emerge. Anyone out there have any tips for me? I could really use some advice on this!

[dennis]

you have a keikei a baby when the roots get about 3 " long then you can remove it and repot it and you will have a exact dupilcate of the mother. it will probably take 18 to 24 months to bloom after it has been repoted. as for as reblooming if the mother is growing then everything should be fine some phals will put out more keikeis than flowers. i have one that has two growing on it not as big as yours but they each have a spike or two growing on them. i would wait till the roots get bigger then worry about removing it. then when you are ready we here will be glad to help you out with it

[ladybbugs62]

Thanks Dennis!
I seem to have done the right thing then...which was to leave it alone! It sits on an east facing windowsill and seems to like it there. The glass is frosted (it's a bathroom window). I live in deep south Texas and our daylight hours are really long once the warm weather season starts which is now! Guess I can wait a little while longer.

The baby plant seems to be growing really fast now. It seemed to be stuck in this weird twilight no grow phase for the longest time. The roots have appeared and grown to about an inch and a half just in the last month or so.
I think it likes that window!

[Anton]

There's an old saying, if it aint broke, don't fix it!

Sounds like it does enjoy where it is, and being in the bathroom gets plent of humidity which they love.

Any time you can post pictures, that is also a big help in guiding you.