root, spike or keiki?

[pikevi]

This Phal has a keiki on the flower stalk which I am experimenting with 'aerial potting' , just like grafting. Today I noticed another small protrusion on the other side of the stalk and in the axil (?) of the leaf. Could it be a spike?. A spike, keiki and another (basal) keiki may be too much for the mother. Should I excise the keiki on the stalk ?

This is a robust plant but the first keiki is really getting bigger. I am attaching two photos, one , a close-up.

The third photo shows a new growth in another Phal. But I am not sure if it is a keiki. Do Phals have 'runners'? It is a bit far from the mother.And when it grows would it pose a problem in separating it from the mother plant?

Thank you.

[kmarch]

It's not clear to me from the photos which structure you're asking about. In the first photo the word "keiki" seems to be pointing to a normal leaf. In the second photo, the growth emerging from the leaf crotch is most likely a spike as this is where spikes usually come from. The last photo seems to show a new growth coming fromt he base of a mature plant. It's not a keiki, just another growth.

Did I hit the mark?

[MSPProductions]

I'm not sure about the first two photos...plus the arrow on photo one is off.
You'll know within a week or so if that is a new growth. I've had a couple of sickly phals sprout new growths from a leaf axel but not from a plant that healthy like yours.

The third is definately a new growth.

[pikevi]

Thank you both.

You certainly did, kmarch. I forgot to put the vertical line towards the protrusion just below that leaf. It does not matter now. Thanks .

It is just that that plant is doing so many things at the same time.

I was more concerned about leaving the original keiki intact.This a very healthy orchid with 10 leaves ( 11th coming out) and lots of roots. The keiki grew so fast that it gave out roots within 2 weeks , I believe.

I took those shots pretty late tonight and I will get more clearer shots tomorrow morning.

Thanks again.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by pikevi

It is just that that plant is doing so many things at the same time.

Yeah well that's what a healthy, happy plant does so you've only yourself to blame.

[pikevi]

hahahaha..

I will leave them outside during the winter for a change

Seriously this one is too healthy;may be something in the genes?

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by pikevi

Seriously this one is too healthy;may be something in the genes?

i believe there is a genetic component to vigor. I once had 2 Lc Burgundy Delight plants that came from the same flask (siblings). One was always smaller than the other, less vigorous and fewer growths, less branching. the other was big and vigorous, many growths, many spikes, won me a cultural award from the AOS. The smaller one eventually died eventhough I gave both plants the exact same culture.

[pikevi]

I think you are right. This one is somewhat an abused plant. Since it was big I could not place it on the platform I built in the summer and it was sitting in a hanging metal basket out in the sun. The medium is dry as a bone in the evenings needing water everyday. It even had a little sunburn but it has gone now(believe it or not) following its move indoors.

I think it is a common flower but I like it. I attach a photo of it with its last bloom (bought with it).