Damaged crown, Flower spike, kiekis all happening at once

[lohitha]

I am a real newbie to orchids. I bought this Phal 11 months ago in full bloom. After that I religously took care of it and kept it alive for almost one year now. It got new leaves and bigger leaves in the process. This is how it looks now.

After some reading, I decided to give it a cooler temperature to promote blooming. Not sure if it is the right thing, but I kept it out for a couple of nights (here in Michigan). Well.. it rained all night and it got soaked. Few days later I noticed some damage to the crown where new leaf grows. Not sure if it is done by a bug or it rotted away. Here is a close up.

Well.. that was 2 weeks ago. Now I see a new flower spike and what seem to be two kiekis on the old spike which I didnt cut. The spike is about a year old. Please take a look and let me know what these are and if this orchid is going to survive with crown damage. Thanks!



Can one year old spike send more flowers? Are these kiekis?

[Daethen]

I personally think the last pics show the old spike sending out sub-spikes. The old spike didn't dry up so it could be sending more flowers. I am not an expert, but the crown damage looks more like insect damage to me. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Others may feel differently.

[Mira-Claude]

I must admit to control everything surrounding my plants and therefore being afraid to put them out. I always fear bugs and rain!
Anyway, usually rot is brown or black and it is mushy. This looks neither.
However I would not expect new leaves to pop out.
Your plan worked though! You've got one spike and what looks like two sub spikes! It will be an impressive display!

[lohitha]

Thanks for the response. The damaged area is very dry and not moist at all. I too think it is insect damage. It it wont get new leaves, it has to do something. I will keep taking care of it and see what happens.

[Dendian]

If the bug hasn't eaten the very center it will continue to grow leaves. They won't look very good with pieces chewed out of them, but they will grow. If it has chewed out the very center then it will do nothing - until it sends out a keiki - either basal (from the base) or possibly on one of the nodes on the spike.

The spike appears to have flowering sub-spikes growing off them - you are going to get another show of flowers - good job!