I totally missed my Orchid of the Week post last Friday, because I was hard at work on a freelance project. Whoops.
I also missed my Sunday morning orchid watering session yesterday, so I watered them this morning instead. And I discovered that a pretty bloom on one of my Phals opened up overnight!
There are also lots of beautiful blooms on this orchid’s side shoot:
A couple weeks ago, I noticed what looked like not one, but two side shoots from this orchid’s growing spike:
I thought the growths had that flattened-at-the-tip mitten shape that is characteristic of spikes, rather than the fuller shape of a bud. And I was right! Here’s what the spike and side shoots look like today—you can really see the difference between growing buds and side shoots in this pic (buds on top, shoots on bottom):
Yet another one of my Phals is starting to grow a side shoot. It stopped blooming a month or so ago, so I cut the spike to try and force it to bloom again. Doing this really works! Here’s proof:
A couple of my other Phals in spike have swelling buds, so I’m going to have lots of blooms in the near future. It’s so very exciting to see my patience paying off!!
6 comments
Congratulations! The pictures are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing,
Thanks!!
Totally impressed with all the spikes, sideshoots and the phal blossom — expecting more pics.
Joyce
Hi,
Really like your descriptions and the photographs are the best tool for a beginner! 🙂
I was gifted an orchid last year where it was is in it’s last month of bloom. It wasn’t doing too well for a few months and only managed a single new leaf (in the whole year) and the old leaves are green but limp.
However, in the last 2 month a couple of side shoots have emerged, with new leaves from the previously blooming stalks. It’s winter here (Amman, Jordan) with the temperature at home between 15 – 20 degrees and dry air.
Should I leave the previous shoots as they are (hope they bloom again in spring – March/April) or cut off the old stalk leaving more energy for the new shoots?
Tried to google various places/ forums but just too confused! Hoping you can help.
Thanks.
Hi there and thanks for the compliment! It sounds like you may have a keiki, which is a baby plant. Does it look something like this?
If that’s the case, congrats! A keiki can either be left on the flower spike or removed and planted in its own pot once the roots have grown long enough (at least a couple inches long). If it’s not a keiki but just a side shoot, I recommend letting the shoots bloom and then cutting the spike down near the bottom once the blooms have died off. That way, like you said, it will reserve energy for the plant.
I hope that helps! Good luck to you!
Thanks for your reply.
Since the leaves are relatively new.. it’s hard to tell … but I think it may turn out to be a Keiki.
I noticed another shoot with swollen areas and hope it turns out to be a flowering one!
Thanks again!