What is This?

[Emma Grey]

Hey all -

As I was watering and inspecting my orchids today, I found something on one that I can't identify. The phal in question is growing a little green in the crevice between its two lower leaves. At first I thought it was a new root as this plant is prone to growing aerial roots between the leaves on the stalk, but this new little green nubbin has a small slit vertically from the bottom to the middle of the nubbin. It looks more like a new leaf to me, but I'm pretty sure phals don't grow new leaves between old ones near the bottom of the stalk.

I tried taking a picture, but alas I'm not good at using my husband's macro lens, so you can't see the slit in the nubbin.

Any guesses to what this little green thing is?

[Greybeard]

I'm not real sure but I'm thinking a new spike it appears to be in roughly the same position as one on my phal. I'm learning a new camera too so don't feel bad about the pic, I'm blind as a doorknob anyway I hope it is then you would get more blooms

[Emma Grey]

I was thinking it might be a new spike as well, but this orchid has only been out of bloom for less than a month. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

[Greybeard]

I do know some Phals like to bloom alot. How many spikes does or did it have I have read in here of one that had four maybe Sometimes my memory is just as good as my eyes

[phalaephila]

Is the new growth above or below the position of the last spike? This question might not mean much, as I have had new spikes grow lower on the plant, but I thought I'd ask....

Looking forward to an updated picture in a few days.

[hera]

Looks like a root. A spike will point up and look like a mitten.

[koshki]

Kinda looks like a leaf to me. Only time will tell!

[Emma Grey]

I guess I'll have to wait and see. I'm fairly sure it's not a root at this point because it doesn't look like any Phal root I've seen, but again, we'll see! Thanks guys.

[-k-]

I'll agree with hera... root! but surprises are also very nice!

[BGGraham1]

I have one that started out like this and now its the biggest aerial root I've seen! Almost as big around as a pencil and about 3 inches long!

[syndywindy]

Just looking at your picture, I'd say root.

[pikkumyy]

id say root

[Reg22]

my guess is a root

[Emma Grey]

Hi all -

A week after I posted this I noticed that the growth was most definitely not a root. It looked like a new spike. But, after four days of vacation this week I returned home to this!

It looks like a basal keiki. Thoughts?

P.S. I have no idea why that top leaf is wrinkly. This plant has oodles of healthy roots (both aerial and below the surface). My only guess is that the plant was using the energy in that leaf to grow a new leaf (which it subsequently decided to stop doing).

[sunshine]

You have a keiki started. My P. Nobby's Amy did this. Started a spike and changed her mind. That keiki will produce a flower spike eventually. Here's what you have to look forward too. The keiki now has 2 nice roots about 2 inches long. I think I'm just gonna let it be for right now as Amy is in spike,again

[Emma Grey]

Sweet! Thanks Sunshine.

[koshki]

Wow, how cool is that? And to get photos of it as it started...it will be fun to watch this develop!

[bearded orchid]

Haha, I was going to suggest a basal keiki. Then I finished scrolling down and saw it had already been mentioned. Congrats!

[Puddy1]

Ohh how fun! Do keep us posted.

[Emma Grey]

My basal keiki has grown a lot in a month! Holy cow. I didn't realize until I visited this thread. It's been fun to watch it so far. I'm curious to see what it'll do this month.

[Puddy1]

Wow! Look at it go!

[Orchidsrock]

I don't think that's a keiki, I think they grow as a distinct plant clump rather than branching.

I suspect that it's a spike, sometimes they have tiny leaves at each node.

[Mira-Claude]

That really doesn't look like a basal growth... In fact it reminds me of a terminal spike, except it's not out of the middle of the crown...
Anyway! Time will tell! I'm eager to see how it's gonna evolve!

[bearded orchid]

Definitely a spike. Complex Phal hybrids get their wires crossed sometimes and form leaves instead of bracts at each node. I've got one doing this too What exactly is this thing?

[orchids4me]

I had a Phal once that had a spike with a leaf on every other node totalling 3. After the flowers passed the spike died back leaves and all they didn't form into keiki's. I found it odd but its in the gene pool I guess..... Will be very interesting to see if you get keiki's

[orchidea]

I have one that just did exact the same thing and blooming as we speak...
Mine was not doing super good after I re-potted, and then started something that looked like a keiki. So, I thought it's trying to survive by creating a baby. I personally think, that the plant is confused and changes it's mind from making a keiki to making a spike. Mine has leaves along the spike with flowers and buds at the end.....

[Daethen]

I agree with orchidea. It looks like it can't make up it's mind. It definitely isn't a basal keiki which is what I thought it was in the first pics. It doesn't quite look like a spike but it doesn't seem to want to finish into a keiki either. Ah well, it is interesting.

[Emma Grey]

I guess we shall see then!

[Emma Grey]

An accident in our house (not caused by me) ended in a broken spike and four overturned/unpotted orchids.

I wanted to see what this thing was going to do! I was hoping it would make a keiki because the top leaf in the crown broke (mysteriously) and I'm not sure this plant will put out any new leafs at this point.

I'm so frustrated right now! I know it was an accident but still! This is the second time in a few weeks that I've lost a spike due to accidents and I just need to vent. I'm considering banning other parties in this house from going within ten feet of my orchids.

[1joyceh]

So sorry to hear about the accident Emma,
I hope they recover and come back better then ever!

[pikkumyy]

oh Emma thats terrible, fence the area off , and try some electric wire or some of that cat deterant spray stuff

[Emma Grey]

It's time for another update!

This plant has been through a lot. After the top leaf broke off at the crown (the result of a fall), I wasn't sure what this plant would do. After a couple of weeks it started to put out a nubbin from the middle of the crown. I was hoping it was a new leaf, but see for yourselves.

Here's what it looks like today. It's working on a third leaf that I can barely see in the middle of the two already present. What do you all think?

[BGGraham1]

Terminal spike, maybe?

[mattryan]

My guess would be as I had exactly both of which you posted. The first was a spike as it happened to me and someone with way more experience than me said sometimes the bracts develop and you get a funny leaf growth on the spike, I thought at first basal keiki too, but it made flowers for me. So sorry about your loss of the spike. Secondly I've had the uppermost leaf break off and worried about the crown, but it grew another. I've also got a phal right now that did nothing in leaf growth for 11/2 yrs and now has grown 3 leaves smaller but exactly as yours. Mine I believe has repaired whatever was wrong with the crown and I think will be ok same as yours. Hope you get somemore flowers soon