Can someone please post a picture of a new flower spike?

[kel80]

I used the search function and can't find one. I'm hoping someone can post a picture of what an emerging spike would look like on a phal?

And the emergence of a leaf as well?

And what does a crown look like? Sorry for all of the questions.

[Aniko]

OK, this is a spike.
On the first pic it's a new leaf, too.The crown is the axis of the plant where all the leaves join.

[brookn]

The crown is basically the junction from where the leaves come from the middle. It forms a well and when water gets in it and stagnates-crown rot. New leaves come from the middle of the plant or crown also, from the top. Hope I explained this right.

[kel80]

Hmmm-the spike almost looks like the roots, am I correct in that?

One of my phals that the bad cat knocked over looks like it might have a spike growing. I just wanted to be sure before I got my hopes up.

The two phals that I had before are sort of in a sorry condition. The first one, the cat knocked over, and three leaves came off, leaving one. I cut the spike off as well. It looks okay-I will post pictures later tonight. The second phal was one that was very much dehydrated and I suspect that the crown is gone. Again, I'll post pictures of her tonight.

Thanks for the pictures!

[Aniko]

Well, they are slightly different: the root is cylindrical, pointed and usually brownish color at the end; the spike is light green and the very end is
flat, mitten like.

[PhalPal]

kel80 - Roots and spikes are hard to tell apart very early on, but the location of the growth can help to determine what you have. Roots can emerge from almost anywhere on a phal and will have a blunt, rounded end. They can also become squiggly, while spikes remain straight and tend to grow upward, but not always. Spikes come from the bottom or oldest row of leaves and will have a more 'mitten' like, V-shape. Both roots and spikes are round and green. Leaves always grow from the crown (dead center) of the plant, starting a new top row of leaves and appear folded, v-shaped, and flat. A rotted crown will be black and eventually turn mushy.

[janet_a]

i posted some pics awhile back, lemme see if i can find them...

ah here

Is this the start of a new flower spike?

and the other pics in that thread.

[justloveorchids]

Actually spikes on my phals are more a shade of brownish red than the bright green of the roots

I will take some photos of the ones i have rescued and treated with Worm tea ........they are startling testimony

can someone tell me how to upload pictures onto this site though please

[Aniko]

We can conclude that he color of new roots/spikes/leaves are genetically determined and variable.The SHAPE is specific to each.

[Aniko]

Justloveorchids - Go advanced and use the Manage attachment button.

[fred]

justloveorchids

this link will explan for you

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/sug...ding-info.html

[PhalPal]

Justloveorchids - You are so right. I was out running errands and it occurred to me "why did I tell her that" I'm going to confuse her even more. What I meant to say is when you have just a teeny bud coming out, what you see is the very tip of the new growth. It is very young and almost always green. I have had flower spikes of all colors; healthy roots are always green or greenish/white. Thanks for clarifying for her!

[kel80]

I FINALLY remembered to bring the USB cord home from work so I can post pictures!

Here are the stories behind the two. Both are phals. Orchid A is one I've had for about two years now. I had multiple blooms out of her and she was a gem to watch and easy to maintain. Until one day bad cat decided to knock her off the windowsill. Three leaves broke off and so did her spike and buds. I cut the spike all the way down as far as I could. I haven't seen much improvement except the other day I spotted this growth. I wasn't sure if it's a spike or a leaf.

Orchid B is one I bought at Home Depot. When I got home I took her out of the pot and the roots were gray and shriveled. I saved what I could. I repotted her and her spike and flowers were droopy and leaves were withered and filled with ridges. I cut the one spike with flowers completely off and she seemed to perk up a bit. But all I see now are two leaves and a spike that isn't doing much of anything. Not sure if there is hope for this one.

What do you guys think???

PS-The first two are Orchid A and the last two are Orchid B

[fred]

when i first looked at orchid A i almost cryed.
the good part is seeing the new growth

with orchid B i think the orchid is potted alittle to deep.

haveing said that i hope other members will help you here

thanks for the pics

[kel80]

Originally Posted by fred

when i first looked at orchid A i almost cryed.
the good part is seeing the new growth

with orchid B i think the orchid is potted alittle to deep.

haveing said that i hope other members will help you here

thanks for the pics

That bad, huh This makes me very sad. It was my first orchid.

I am not kidding you when I tell you that I was literally balling, in tears, crying my eyes out on the phone to my husband to tell him what that bad cat did.

[Aniko]

Hi kel80If you are patient you can have alive and happy both of them.
A - The new growth might be a keiki(= a baby plant) which will develop in a new plant.To reach the blooming size will take some time: about 18 months.
B - This second plant with proper care will be fine in short time. Will start new roots, than the new leaf which at the moment probably stopped growing, will grow. The healing period can last 1-3 months, in my experience.

Some Superthrive treatment would help.And - sorry - cut off the spike.
Good luck!

[fred]

no its not that bad. dont be sad cats will be cats.

the orchid is growing for you now so thats great.
with the new growth looks like you have saved the plant.
congrats with that

the repotting is good the only reason i say its a little deep is becaues of when you water the plant.

you have to watch the cat and i have to watch the cat and the birds.
hehe

[kel80]

Aniko-
Patient? Me? Ha, ha, ha!

I will have to learn to be patient. I'm having a hard time finding superthrive (at the major hardware stores) but I will put a call in to the garden center down the street to see if they have it. If not I'll get it online.

I was dreading to hear "cut off the spike" but I will if that will help.

Thanks everyone

[justloveorchids]

You need some Worm tea to mist it with ........it works wonders

Start a wormerie then you get gallons of worm tea for free

[justloveorchids]

heres pictures of new flower spike thats doubled in size in 2 days on one of my rescue orchids thats been misted with worm tea

the other 2 pictures are the new roots on another rescue orchid also misted with worm tea daily

you should have seen their sorry state 6 weeks ago

[kel80]

Originally Posted by justloveorchids

heres pictures of new flower spike thats doubled in size in 2 days on one of my rescue orchids thats been misted with worm tea

the other 2 pictures are the new roots on another rescue orchid also misted with worm tea daily

you should have seen their sorry state 6 weeks ago

Wow, thanks. Can I use both worm tea and superthrive, or is it one or the other?

[PhalPal]

Kel80- it may just be the picture, but orchid B (third from left) looks like it may have some crown rot starting? Don't panic - it could just be dirt at the crown and need cleaning up; I agree with Fred it is planted too deep. Nice new leaf starting tho!
Worm tea is more of a fertilizer/beneficial bacteria and superthrive is a growing hormone. I wouldn't use both at once but might alternate them. If I had a choice of only one: I would mist and water with worm tea. Misting with the tea has done wonders with some of my 'rescue' babies!

[Aniko]

Kel80 - Well, I've never used worm tea yet, but probably I'll try it in the future .

Superthrive is used for rescued/shocked/repotted plants. From time to time I use it for all my plants - gave me great results: the new roots are very thick, vigorous which is important because a strong root system can sustain the future development of the whole plant.