On Tue, 7 Sep 2004 09:50:37 +0100, "dirt dibbler" wrote:

I have a few orchids with flowering spikes, but what i thought was an
off-shoot near the top of one of the spikes, has turned out to have a couple
of small leaves.
This is the first time i have had this happen, is this small crown something
that can be removed at some stage to give a second plant, or do they just
have high leaves occasionally?

The production of adventitious growths on flower spikes of
Phalaenopsis is a relatively common event, but not all hybrids or
species will do this. Over a period of months, yours will develop
into a small plant and should produce several aerial roots. At that
stage, you can remove it and pot it up. Flowering can commence in as
little as 12 months. I've seen plants that have been left to their
own devices where the parent has masses of offsets that had themselves
flowered and produced new offsets. It is an easy and reliable way of
increasing your plants.

Dave Poole
Torquay, Coastal South Devon UK
Winter min -2°C. Summer max 34°C.
Growing season: March - November