Tiny Dtps seedling already has 2 basal keikis?

[Rivka]

So i got a lovely seedling last Oct at The National Capital Orchid Society orchid show and sale. It's a Dtps Jim 'Brennan's Orchids' AM/AOS according to the tag and was about 4 inches across with 2 leaves. after a harsh winter where all my collection suffered from neglect as i birthed my twins and was consumed with kids as opposed to 'chids, it now seems to be doing great, but not the way i would expect.

It has 2 small strong happy "basal keikis" i guess, it really does seem like it is now growing as 3* growths.


*i say 3 but, and this may be the issue, the main plant might of had a set back, it looks like it possible lost its center at some point this last winter. it is not now suffering from anything at all and is bright and happy in every way, but it does look to me to not have a growth pint in the center. could it have gotten and recovered from a tiny bit of crown rot, not enough to kill the plant but enough to stop that main point from growing anymore leaves? is this why it went elsewhere and starting new shoots?

im amazed at the vigor of this tiny little plant, i have very little experience with starting them so small. my collection and experience is just now getting to the point where i'm buying younger and younger, both to save money and to learn more about raising them.

It was moved over to s/h as all my orchid are a few months back, i did not fee like i could wait for a normal growth time, not even sure when that would be with such a small plant, but it was spring and it was starting this tiny growths so i took the leap and it seemed to love it.

1. 1st picture is of the total plant, it is in a cup that is 3.75" (9.5 centimeters) across for size reference
2. 2nd picture shows the center of the main growth, it does seem sadly hollow. but plant otherwise shows no size of stress or problems at all, it has been this way for at least 5 months. so basically while it was growing 4 total leaves in the 2 other growths, it grew nothing here.
3. 3rd picture shows the 2 wonderfully strong little growths, go little growths go!

[Dendian]

Hi Rivka - contrats on the Twins!

As for the Dpts - a lot of these species are prone to throw basal growths - and if anything damages the main lead they know what to do. It does look like the main lead was damaged, the plant can no longer grow new leaves in that growth. Fortunately it looks like the side growths are taking over - Hooray!

[Rivka]

if that is the case, and i tend to agree, how great is it that it started 2 growths, i get to go from a damaged single growth to 2 healthy ones!

thanks for the twingrats, they have fun cheering me on as i water my 'chids, now i just get to teach them not to grab plants as they will be crawling soon