Horizontal spike on Phal.

[pikevi]

This orchid was separated at the time of repotting last month since it was potted with another (two in a pot). The label was Phal. Wedding Promenade and I bought a bunch of them at $5 each.

This one started to grow a new leaf and then a spike. I did not pay much attention to it since there were many Phals spiking at the same time. Today I noticed this spike has grown almost parallel to the ground.I tried to straighten it out but the spike is stiff and I am afraid that it might snap at the bend.

Any harm in leaving it as it is? Also any simple and practical way of straigtening the spike? I could try a sling and a pulley to straighten it but by the time it becomes straight the flowers would be dead and gone, I think.

Thanks.

[Vivienne]

It sure does seem to have a mind of it's own. I bet it's going to be beautiful when it opens. If you think it's going to break with straightening, then how about you leave it alone. Place the whole plant up higher so you can enjoy the show!

[Tobi]

I think I would leave it as is also. If you try fiddling around trying to straighten
it, it just might break. You might want to put some kind of a mini brace at
the point when it is bending at the bottom of the spike just to assure it doesn't
snap from the weight of the blooms. As Vivienne suggested, place it up
higher on a shelf and let it flower like it would in its natural habitat hanging
down.

[jbigio]

Just leave it thats the safest bet!

[Steve B]

Another thought is to play with the light angles. I had a phal. spike do something similar a couple of years ago and I started rotating it in the windowsill until I got the spike to completly rotate direction (180 degrees).
It still flowered with no problems and it helped balance the plant.
I don't know your set up, but maybe a light more directly above, or lower the plant so the grows up to the light.

Just another option.

Steve

[pikevi]

Thanks everyone.

I will leave it as it is.

[Anton]

Sure it wasn't cultivated in Australia and a bit lost up north ?

[pikevi]

LOL, Anton.

"Birds of a feather flock together"

My be the crazies get attracted to ME!!

[snowballsarebad]

Pikevi,
I bought a phal Wedding Promenade a couple months ago. It's spike also grew horizontally. I wonder if it's typical? Or just a light factor.

[pikevi]

Thanks for the suggestion, Steve B.

In this case I doubt the direction of the soure of light is the reason. All of them are exposed to the same lighting conditions: light comes from ABOVE.

snowballsarebad: I bought more than a dozen of them a few weeks back. ALL were labeled "Wedding Promenade', although the leaves looked so different in each of them.The colour was stated as 'y','pk' and 'r'. I hope I get a few good flowers, especially yellow ones.

[Vivienne]

pikevi - I have seen the Phal. Wedding Promenades all over the place here and you're correct... they seem to come in every color imaginable! Fingers are crossed for some nice yellow ones. I need to pick up a yellow Phal or to in the future. I think I only have 2... maybe.

[janet_a]

yeah, you have to catch the spikes when they're little and--gently--train them up a stake. just enjoy this one as is. don't try to fiddle with it; as you surmised, it might break. (BTDT )

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by pikevi

Any harm in leaving it as it is?

No harm in leaving it as is. If you just let it go you're guarented of not damaging it while if you start rigging it up to pulleys and other contraptions you increase your chances of damaging it.

[pikevi]

I sure will leave it alone. Thanks.