I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip
but it was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but
wondered if this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other
leaf nodes are blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it
flowers! The original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left
well alone.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 16/09/2013 14:41, Sacha wrote:
I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip but
it was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but
wondered if this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other
leaf nodes are blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it
flowers! The original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left well
alone.




It sounds as if you may have the beginnings of a keiki or baby orchid.
Wait until it has put on a few aerial roots, then snip it free of the
parent plant and pot it up. You can then cut back the remainder of the
stem on the parent orchid to the base.

http://www.repotme.com/orchid-care/Orchid-Keikis.html


The keiki will be identical to the parent. I have one several years old
now and it flowers well.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

"Sacha" wrote

I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip but it
was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but wondered if
this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other leaf nodes are
blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it flowers! The
original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left well alone.

Very normal behaviour. In the hands of the experts the flower stems
constantly lengthen, stop, flower, and lengthen etc according to temperature
so they end up with dozens of flowers on one stem if they can keep the
original flowers looking good. They can also grow a new orchid on the flower
stem instead of a flower, one of mine is doing that now.
I sometimes cut the flower spikes off completely so the plant has a rest and
then makes new ones if they start to look strange/untidy.

I can remember paying £25 for one of these orchids about 40 years ago from a
specialist grower, now you can pick them up for £5 in Sainsburys and they
are now easy to grow too which they didn't used to be.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 2013-09-16 16:13:03 +0100, Spider said:

On 16/09/2013 14:41, Sacha wrote:
I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip but
it was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but
wondered if this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other
leaf nodes are blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it
flowers! The original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left well
alone.




It sounds as if you may have the beginnings of a keiki or baby orchid.
Wait until it has put on a few aerial roots, then snip it free of the
parent plant and pot it up. You can then cut back the remainder of the
stem on the parent orchid to the base.

http://www.repotme.com/orchid-care/Orchid-Keikis.html


The keiki will be identical to the parent. I have one several years
old now and it flowers well.

Thanks to you and to Bob. I think I'll take a photo of it and see what
you think.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:24:21 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Sacha" wrote

I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip but it
was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but wondered if
this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other leaf nodes are
blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it flowers! The
original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left well alone.

Very normal behaviour. In the hands of the experts the flower stems
constantly lengthen, stop, flower, and lengthen etc according to temperature
so they end up with dozens of flowers on one stem if they can keep the
original flowers looking good. They can also grow a new orchid on the flower
stem instead of a flower, one of mine is doing that now.
I sometimes cut the flower spikes off completely so the plant has a rest and
then makes new ones if they start to look strange/untidy.

I can remember paying £25 for one of these orchids about 40 years ago from a
specialist grower, now you can pick them up for £5 in Sainsburys and they
are now easy to grow too which they didn't used to be.

Our local greengrocer had some for £3.99 yesterday, looking quite
good! I resisted the urge to buy because I have 4 already.

Pam in Bristol

On 2013-09-17 09:25:32 +0100, Pam Moore said:

On Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:24:21 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Sacha" wrote

I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip but it
was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but wondered if
this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other leaf nodes are
blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it flowers! The
original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left well alone.

Very normal behaviour. In the hands of the experts the flower stems
constantly lengthen, stop, flower, and lengthen etc according to temperature
so they end up with dozens of flowers on one stem if they can keep the
original flowers looking good. They can also grow a new orchid on the flower
stem instead of a flower, one of mine is doing that now.
I sometimes cut the flower spikes off completely so the plant has a rest and
then makes new ones if they start to look strange/untidy.

I can remember paying £25 for one of these orchids about 40 years ago from a
specialist grower, now you can pick them up for £5 in Sainsburys and they
are now easy to grow too which they didn't used to be.

Our local greengrocer had some for £3.99 yesterday, looking quite
good! I resisted the urge to buy because I have 4 already.

Pam in Bristol

That's amazingly cheap, Pam! Go out and buy lots and give them away for
Christmas!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2013-09-16 17:29:45 +0100, Sacha said:

On 2013-09-16 16:13:03 +0100, Spider said:

On 16/09/2013 14:41, Sacha wrote:
I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip but
it was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but
wondered if this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other
leaf nodes are blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it
flowers! The original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left well
alone.




It sounds as if you may have the beginnings of a keiki or baby orchid.
Wait until it has put on a few aerial roots, then snip it free of the
parent plant and pot it up. You can then cut back the remainder of the
stem on the parent orchid to the base.

http://www.repotme.com/orchid-care/Orchid-Keikis.html


The keiki will be identical to the parent. I have one several years
old now and it flowers well.

Thanks to you and to Bob. I think I'll take a photo of it and see what
you think.

Here it is:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93694401@N03/9783249091/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93694401@N03/9783450406/
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 17/09/2013 09:25, Pam Moore wrote:
On Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:24:21 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Sacha" wrote

I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip but it
was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but wondered if
this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other leaf nodes are
blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it flowers! The
original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left well alone.

Very normal behaviour. In the hands of the experts the flower stems
constantly lengthen, stop, flower, and lengthen etc according to temperature
so they end up with dozens of flowers on one stem if they can keep the
original flowers looking good. They can also grow a new orchid on the flower
stem instead of a flower, one of mine is doing that now.
I sometimes cut the flower spikes off completely so the plant has a rest and
then makes new ones if they start to look strange/untidy.

I can remember paying £25 for one of these orchids about 40 years ago from a
specialist grower, now you can pick them up for £5 in Sainsburys and they
are now easy to grow too which they didn't used to be.

Our local greengrocer had some for £3.99 yesterday, looking quite
good! I resisted the urge to buy because I have 4 already.

Pam in Bristol





You should have bought a few, Pam! I would have. Four is nothing ...
I've got 34! .. and that's not counting the hardy types. If I had a
heated greenhouse or conservatory, there'd be no stopping me :)

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 17/09/2013 10:59, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-09-16 17:29:45 +0100, Sacha said:

On 2013-09-16 16:13:03 +0100, Spider said:

On 16/09/2013 14:41, Sacha wrote:
I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip
but
it was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but
wondered if this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other
leaf nodes are blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it
flowers! The original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left
well
alone.




It sounds as if you may have the beginnings of a keiki or baby
orchid. Wait until it has put on a few aerial roots, then snip it
free of the parent plant and pot it up. You can then cut back the
remainder of the stem on the parent orchid to the base.

http://www.repotme.com/orchid-care/Orchid-Keikis.html


The keiki will be identical to the parent. I have one several years
old now and it flowers well.

Thanks to you and to Bob. I think I'll take a photo of it and see what
you think.

Here it is:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93694401@N03/9783249091/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93694401@N03/9783450406/



Ah! Just as well you posted a pic, Sacha. That's not a keiki, but
another small flowering stem.

I don't think you'll see any activity on the upper part of that stem
now. It will probably just die back, so you can cut it away. You may
wish to leave one node above the flowering stem before you cut, just in
case of die back. That's what I do anyway. The other horticultural
technique is to cross your fingers when you cut it back;).

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 2013-09-17 13:46:56 +0100, Spider said:

On 17/09/2013 10:59, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-09-16 17:29:45 +0100, Sacha said:

On 2013-09-16 16:13:03 +0100, Spider said:

On 16/09/2013 14:41, Sacha wrote:
I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip
but
it was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but
wondered if this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other
leaf nodes are blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it
flowers! The original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left
well
alone.




It sounds as if you may have the beginnings of a keiki or baby
orchid. Wait until it has put on a few aerial roots, then snip it
free of the parent plant and pot it up. You can then cut back the
remainder of the stem on the parent orchid to the base.

http://www.repotme.com/orchid-care/Orchid-Keikis.html


The keiki will be identical to the parent. I have one several years
old now and it flowers well.

Thanks to you and to Bob. I think I'll take a photo of it and see what
you think.

Here it is:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93694401@N03/9783249091/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93694401@N03/9783450406/



Ah! Just as well you posted a pic, Sacha. That's not a keiki, but
another small flowering stem.

I don't think you'll see any activity on the upper part of that stem
now. It will probably just die back, so you can cut it away. You may
wish to leave one node above the flowering stem before you cut, just in
case of die back. That's what I do anyway. The other horticultural
technique is to cross your fingers when you cut it back;).

Ah yes, I've mastered that technique all too well! I haven't cut the
stems yet, only because they're so green, healthy and firm. And another
slight swelling seems to be appearing at the tip of the stem in the
photo. In the past, I've found that the stems start to die back
naturally but so far, that hasn't happened with this one.


--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2013-09-17 13:41:04 +0100, Spider said:

On 17/09/2013 09:25, Pam Moore wrote:
On Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:24:21 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Sacha" wrote

I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip but it
was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but wondered if
this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other leaf nodes are
blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it flowers! The
original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left well alone.

Very normal behaviour. In the hands of the experts the flower stems
constantly lengthen, stop, flower, and lengthen etc according to temperature
so they end up with dozens of flowers on one stem if they can keep the
original flowers looking good. They can also grow a new orchid on the flower
stem instead of a flower, one of mine is doing that now.
I sometimes cut the flower spikes off completely so the plant has a rest and
then makes new ones if they start to look strange/untidy.

I can remember paying £25 for one of these orchids about 40 years ago from a
specialist grower, now you can pick them up for £5 in Sainsburys and they
are now easy to grow too which they didn't used to be.

Our local greengrocer had some for £3.99 yesterday, looking quite
good! I resisted the urge to buy because I have 4 already.

Pam in Bristol





You should have bought a few, Pam! I would have. Four is nothing ...
I've got 34! .. and that's not counting the hardy types. If I had a
heated greenhouse or conservatory, there'd be no stopping me :)

I do hope RG didn't read this!! ;-)
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 17/09/2013 13:53, Sacha wrote:

You should have bought a few, Pam! I would have. Four is nothing ...
I've got 34! .. and that's not counting the hardy types. If I had a
heated greenhouse or conservatory, there'd be no stopping me :)

I do hope RG didn't read this!! ;-)



--
RG

On 17/09/2013 14:11, RG wrote:
On 17/09/2013 13:53, Sacha wrote:

You should have bought a few, Pam! I would have. Four is nothing ...
I've got 34! .. and that's not counting the hardy types. If I had a
heated greenhouse or conservatory, there'd be no stopping me :)

I do hope RG didn't read this!! ;-)





Ooops! Too late ;~)))

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 2013-09-17 15:13:39 +0100, Spider said:

On 17/09/2013 14:11, RG wrote:
On 17/09/2013 13:53, Sacha wrote:

You should have bought a few, Pam! I would have. Four is nothing ...
I've got 34! .. and that's not counting the hardy types. If I had a
heated greenhouse or conservatory, there'd be no stopping me :)

I do hope RG didn't read this!! ;-)





Ooops! Too late ;~)))

Poor man!!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 17/09/2013 16:41, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-09-17 15:13:39 +0100, Spider said:

On 17/09/2013 14:11, RG wrote:
On 17/09/2013 13:53, Sacha wrote:

You should have bought a few, Pam! I would have. Four is nothing ...
I've got 34! .. and that's not counting the hardy types. If I had a
heated greenhouse or conservatory, there'd be no stopping me :)

I do hope RG didn't read this!! ;-)





Ooops! Too late ;~)))

Poor man!!



Believe me, he doesn't need any sympathy! :~) He even gets a bit
excited when my Paphiopedilums flower, esp. the maudiae type. What he
doesn't like are the little black flies but, hey, I've got to eat
something!! :~))

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay