Weird growth on Phal

[violetta]

I got this Phal hybrid a few months ago. I cut the spikes when it finished blooming, I repotted in fresh bark, it grew new roots and one new leaf. Then it seemed like it was growing a terminal spike, but there are leaves instead of a spike. I have never seen anything like this before

[patticake]

That's a weird one all right! It kind of looks like a keiki on a stick! I wouldn't be surprised if it started popping some roots at the base of the small leaves. Keep us posted...

[mayres]

That is a super cool picture and intriguing phenomena - I hope you do in fact keep us posted in the future so that we can watch its progress. Thanks for sharing!

[Yiu Lin]

It almost looks as if your phalaenopsis decided to become a dendrobium!!
Perhaps it had an identity complex

[violetta]

I guess I´ll just have to wait and see what happens..
Thank you all, I´ll keep you updated when the plant decides what it wants to do

[fred]

very interesting thank you for sharing that with us

[violetta]

Do you remember my weird Phal? It has grown new leaves, but 2 days ago I noticed something tiny between the leaves
So maybe it's not that weird after all.

[amersault]

that looks like a spike!

congratulations on your impending winter blooms!

[Wendy]

That's cool! It almost looks like your plant keiki'd from the crown and now that is throwing its own spike. I'm curious to know if it ever gets roots of its own. It is a VERY healthy looking plant! Congrats on your great growing!

[bemarine]

So do spikes only grow from the base where the root comes from. Or should I be looking at the top like this one. My Phal is huge and hasnt bloomed. It was one I saved that almost drowned 3 years ago. Its healthy looking now and is huge,but no spike yeat. I saw a green nob this morning before work. I hope its one and not a root. Yours looks happy

[amersault]

normally spikes are near the base of the plant and kind of work their way up the leaf spans. in this case, it looks like something interrupted the growth pattern and it kind of started over somewhere; in the process, a new spike chose to form on the new area.

it will be interesting to see if this grows roots on the new 'growth'.

for your Phal, lack of blooms may be a combination of too little light or not enough temperature variation to encourage spiking.

you need a 10 degree temperature differential for a fixed period to intiate spikes.

[lmartiny]

I too was going to say it looks like a spike. They do work their way up the leaf spans. If the tip has a bumpy texture, it is a spike. If it is just nubby it'll be a root. This is the time of year phals start to spike for me here in FL. If.... they spike. I only have a few.

[kmarch]

Spikes don't only come from the base; they could come from any leaf crotch. I too think this is a spike. Violetta, do you know the name of your phal? I suspect it is a complex hybrid. Complex hybrids can sometimes do odd things like throw a terminal spike or grow odd shaped leaves. I have never, in all my years of growing and judging, seen anything quite like this. Mayers has posted some interesting oddities but not this one.

I have to say other than the odd growth pattern the plant looks very healthy. I see several healthy roots with nice green growing tips. The leaves look firm and crisp and healthy. You're obviously giving it the care it likes, especially if it is spiking.

Thanks for posting this oddity and please keep us posted on the spike and continued growth.

[violetta]

kmarch, what exactly is a "complex hybrid"?
Unfortunately I don´t have a name as I "saved" it from IKEA, the label just said "Phal hybrid". Back then I didn´t know much about orchids. I chose it because I liked the flowers, they are purple with white lines and quite small. It had four spikes which was surprising for such a small plant, so when it finished flowering I cut them all down to the base. It then grew some roots and many strange leaves. It is different from my other Phals, it looks "weak" and has very thin leaves, so they are always floppy. I admit I never expected it to flower.

(On the same day i bought another Phal hybrid, which grew a terminal spike and will flower soon. So I guess it wasn´t my lucky day.)

Thank you all for your comments, hopefully I will post pictures of the flowers in a few months.

[violetta]

Weird Phal update!

The flower is tiny and very cute

[dorothea]

it's beautiful! I like tiny dots and stripes together, and the colors are nice

[norris]

Congrats! that is a nice one

[digitalgate]

may be this plant had a crown rot that lead to this new growth and new spike later

[NancyH]

Wow, pretty flower. As orchid growers we are blessed with a kind of strange sense of patience. We are willing to wait, wait and wait some more for that sometimes elusive gift of a bloom. We love suprises too as a label could be all off/wrong and then the bloom of truth. Your photos were great and I really enjoyed your "suprise" Keep on growing!

[flowerchild]

See it wasn't such a strange orchid after all, it just wanted to keep you on your toes and surprise you........SURPRISE it flowered!!!!!

[PhalPal]

Phals do the strangest things. I have never seen anything like this one.

[violetta]

Orchids never cease to amaze me, every plant seems to have a mind of its own!

[oncidiumlover]

love the bloom, gorgeous colors! Great Growing!