Thank you Danny and Kenni,
Additional flowers have opened by now, and they are normal, so I am assuming
that the missing petal is just a quirk.
Joanna

"Kenni Judd" wrote in message
...
Joanna: I don't really have anything to add, but your further explanation
does make it sound more likely that this is just a "quirk" rather than a
serious problem with your plant. If a couple more flowers open normal,
then you can pinch that bottom one off and only you (and all of us you've
told about it G). will know about it. Kenni

"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:xEPMf.25556$3W5.18527@trnddc02...
Kenni,

Thanks for the advice. I am thinking of cutting off both spikes if I see
any additional flower anomalies or if a second leaf goes yellow soon.

However, I may have not explained the "old" spike correctly, and given
the wrong impression. This spike was in bloom from March 2005 until May
2005 only, and since May 2005 it has remained green but not carrying any
flowers or buds, until recently (in January 2006) when it grew new
branches. The new spike (which the anomalous flower is on) was initiated
in November 2005. So this Phal has had a rest (between May 2005 and
November 2005), unless a green spike but without buds or flowers is not
enough rest, but I thought it was (?). So I would not think that
flowering itself to death applies to this orchid at this point.