Orchid Flower Spike Growth

Eventually a new flower spike will grow.

Orchid flower spike growth. But which is a flower spike and which is a root. While growing spikes remain green along their full length. Follow this link on reblooming orchids. With the old spikes i think it s best to cut them back at the base to allow the plants to focus on growth especially for the orchid that is already growing a new spike.

Aerial roots that hang from the orchid s spike or curl up and over the edges of its pot are common in phalaenopsis orchids. There can be many reasons like insufficient light not proven weak flower spikes genetic mutations and anomalies. This orchid has a bunch of ariel roots they are growing all around this pot. The terminal spike appears a classic sign your orchid won t live much longer.

As they have turned brown no new flowers will grow on those spikes. The rate of development depends on two main factors. Generally if you want to try and encourage an orchid to rebloom from a spike you should cut the spike just below the last node where the blooms sprouted from. Since it is phalaenopsis orchids season it s time to see some new flower spikes growing.

Sometimes flower spikes on orchids stop growing without a reason especially with phalaenopsis orchids. Increased light increases the capacity for the plant to photosynthesize and generate energy which can be used to grow the new flower spike. The short reddish growth on the left of the base of the plant is a root and the growth on the right is a flower spike. Normally on most moth orchids it will probably be light green in color but in this particular plant it s reddish.

You can see a big more established spike shoot on the left which is growing behind the stick and is probably in bloom. The fact that new leaves are growing is a very good indication that all is well. You can see that the root on the left is rounder and it has a uniform tip. Terminal flower spikes are flower stems that appear in the middle or center of the crown of your phalaenopsis orchid hindering any more future growth be it a leaf a spike or further stem growth.

Flower spikes are usually greener than roots and have a flatter mitten shaped tip. Spikes usually emerge from between the plant s leaves not from the plant s center. How long does it take for an orchid spike to grow. Two roots emerging from the base of a phalaenopsis roots growing from an oncidium bollopetalum putting out loads of new roots.

In this case the orchid needs to be repotted soon to push some of these roots down in the soil. Orchid spikes develop quite slowly typically over the space of 2 3 months. This seems to be triggered by environment changes. Your orchid is growing and developing normally.

As roots grow they are covered with a protective substance that gives them a whitish or silvery appearance.