Flower spikes from an old spike ?

[Cthulhu138]

Has anyone seen this before ? This is a new one for me. I have 2 Phaeleonopsis shooting up flower spikes from old, spent spikes.

<a href="http://s1109.photobucket.com/albums/h434/Nepenthes138/?action=view&current=roridula002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h434/Nepenthes138/roridula002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1109.photobucket.com/albums/h434/Nepenthes138/?action=view&current=roridula003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h434/Nepenthes138/roridula003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1109.photobucket.com/albums/h434/Nepenthes138/?action=view&current=roridula004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h434/Nepenthes138/roridula004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[31drew31]

Yup its quite common actually. Cutting 3-4 nodes up from the bottom will usually get it to activate. Often the second spike produces smaller and less flowers.

 

[swords]

It happens on occasion. Sometimes a flower spike and sometimes a Keiki - a new plant will grow from an old flower bract. My aunt showed me her Phal on Xmas and asked me why there was a new plant growing off the flower stalk, damn thing could have been cut off and potted up long ago! LOL

 

[Brie]

yeah my huge old white phal does that all the time... its actually a trick to get them to flower more often.. when the flowers from a spike die and fall off, trim it down to right above that node.. and usually flower spikes will grow from that node..

 

[Cthulhu138]

I've had these for years and have never seen this. Now, 2 at once.

 

[JB_OrchidGuy]

It is easy to induce a sec flower by cutting off the old nodes about an inch above the first dorment node. It is not good to do unless it is an established plant. It is a great way to prolong flowering.

 

[sarracenia_X]

what the heck? i had no idea that they did that. thats actually pretty cool. what color are those orchids? i take it that they have flowered in your care before? please keep us updated if the second spikes flower!



oh, and while we are talking about orchids, i would like to ask how to get my phal to flower. he has a living flower spike on him. it is green, and the plant seems healthy, its just that the spike isnt doing ANYTHING. he had a couple flowers and 2 buds when i got him, which was some time in the middle of summer 2011. he flowered, and opened his other 2 buds over the course of about 1-2 month, mabey more, i dont quite remember. he has grown 2 new leaves since i got him. today, the flower sp8ke still looks fine but flowerless. do you think he is hungry for some fertilizer??

 

[Cthulhu138]

These are the 2 plants that are doing this, each has 2 new spikes emerging from the old.

<a href="http://s1109.photobucket.com/albums/h434/Nepenthes138/Orchids/?action=view&current=039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h434/Nepenthes138/Orchids/039.jpg" border="0" alt="Phaeleonopsis - Hybrid"></a>

<a href="http://s1109.photobucket.com/albums/h434/Nepenthes138/Orchids/?action=view&current=greenswamp2011178.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h434/Nepenthes138/Orchids/greenswamp2011178.jpg" border="0" alt="Phaleonopsis - Hybrid"></a>

I don't have any advice on getting yours to flower. I don't do anything to mine except water them and, they flower several times per year.

 

[Whimgrinder]

Phalaenopsis require a drop in night temperatures for a minimum of two weeks in order to initiate a flower spike. Arrange placement of your plant where it will experience night temps below 60F for at least 14 days in a row, without fail. That should start new flowering growth, either from an old spike, or it will make a new one. Sometimes both!

 

[sarracenia_X]

got it!