nature relies on redundancy. There are ALWAYS multiple growth buds at each
location that has them, and some sprinkled along areas where none are
suppose to be....just in case. If you strip off a node sheath on a spike
and look at it under a magnifying lens you will frequently find three or
even five dormant buds, one big one and several tiny ones. This is true
all up and down the stem of a Phal also. Buds that can grow to become new
spikes or new crowns depending on need.

Active buds produce suppressing hormones that prevent other nearby buds from
developing. remove the active bud, kill the crown, mess with those
hormones, dilute them, alter them, etc... and other buds spring into growth.

How often does it happen? Seldom enough that it is a surprise and is
somewhat remarkable but other otherwise I have no data to share.

What made it grow? I like Steve's idea but it could be all kinds of
environmental stresses and/or excesses, good and bad. Or maybe it just felt
like you needed to be thrown for a loop. Orchid plants love doing that, and
they NEVER read the manual. Neither do babies, BTW. But you have probably
figured that out by now.

"Steve" wrote in message
...
J Fortuna wrote:
I just noticed that one of my Phals' newest spike is below two previous
spikes. How often does that happen? I have never seen this before.
Usually a newer spike was above older spikes. This one looks like it is
coming out of the base or close to it, and it's nicely lined up with
where previous spikes started, almost exactly below them. Hmmm. I guess
Phals still continue to have some surprises up their (s)leaves for me.

Joanna


I saw that happen a couple of times in my Phals. I guess all hidden buds,
destined to be spikes, do not develop. This one of yours was going to stay
dormant but something... lets assume it was excellent culture :-) ...
triggered it to develop after all.

Steve