Hi, Xi: I don't know whether it's hormones or what, but I have never seen
nor heard of a monopodial blooming from lower down than the previous
inflorescence. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen -- I've learned to "never
say never" about orchids -- but it would be an unusual event. So if this
one is already blooming from the very top, it probably has no more room to
bloom on the mother plant. Kenni

"Xi Wang" wrote in message
news:r0WIe.126373$s54.2507@pd7tw2no...
Hi,

I didn't know that was the case...is it because without apical growth, the
hormonal balance in the plants goes wonky? I was thinking that with a big
plant like that, even without apical growth, it will stay take the
remaining leaves years to die off, and in that time, it may still produce
at least roots and spikes, just not new leaves.

Cheers,
Xi