unusual phaleonopsis growth

[kirbyhanson]

I have a healthy phal that appeared to be growing a new shoot from a pre-existing one. But as the shoot has developed, it has not only buds growing on it, but with each new bud...a new leaf. Bizarre. No actual blooming yet but I'd like to learn more about this phenomenon. Any ideas as to what or why this is? Thanks!

[Hakulady]

Kirbyhansen, welcome to the forum. I hope you will find it informative here.

When you say new shoot, do you mean a new plant (keiki) or a flower stem? It's not unusual for a secondary flower stem to develop from the original stem. It is also possible for a phal to grow a basal keiki from the base of the mother plant. I have a Brother Saras Gold that has done that. That particular phal also had developed tiny leaves on the flower stem from each flower node. However, those leaves never developed or grew any larger even after the flowers wilted and dried up.

A posted photo would be interesting for other forum members to see.

[kirbyhanson]

Hakulady, thank you! I will take a photo and upload it. You are right..I need to be clearer. It is not a kieki but a new flower stem which has developed from the original flower stem on the plant. I do have another orchid that is growing a new plant from its flower stem. I understand I have to wait until the roots are at least 3 inches long and then I can remove it from the plant.

But what is odd about this flower stem is that with each bud there is a little leaf. Photo forthcoming! Thank you so much.

[Hakulady]

Kirbyhanson, you are right about waiting to remove the keiki from the flower stem until the roots are about 2-3 inches long. You can either detach it carefully with a sterile scissors or knife or cut a small piece of the stem on either side of the roots and plant the whole thing. It isn't usual for you to get a secondary stem or a keiki on a flower stem. Some people believe a phal puts out a keiki because the mother isn't doing that well and it 'wants' to propagate itself. In 10 years of growing phals, I've only had 2 secondary stems and ony one keiki. That phal is doing fine now.

I'm looking forward to a photo.