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Long thin flower stalk and thin stalk with only 1 flower

17 years ago

I am rather new to growing orchids, but love them and have been trying very diligently to learn. I have two orchid plants that started to bloom. I do not understand why my orchid stalks are so thin and that one of the plant only have one flower. HELP!.

E.

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Ginge

17 years ago

Hi , Can you tell us what kind of orchid you have ? Gin

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Comments (6)

eliza_iris
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi Gin,

They are both phalaenopsis.
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If you were here, I would give you part of it, as I have it growing in several pots. The flower spike is bigger now than when it bloomed before. I'm not sure why the leaves are so droopy, but if I give it more light, they turn brown, and so I keep it fairly protected. It was being grown indoors when I bought it, and so I considered it mainly a house plant. I am going to move the pot(s) to a different location the next time it starts to bloom so that I can rotate the pot regularly. The flowers stay on the plant for a very long time, but it is a bit difficult to move, as the leaves are like saw blades and are quick to make cuts if I am not wearing long leather gloves. Here is a somewhat similar bromeliad we saw in at theArenal Butterfly Conservatory / Botanical Gardens in Costa Rica last March:The leaves are droopy and turning somewhat yellow, but at least the flower stalk is fairly erect, although the flowers on this one are not as heavy as mine. According the Wikipedia, the Arenal Botanical Gardens have fallen into disrepair, but they still charged $20 entrance. However, they have a nice zoo there and some beautiful waterfalls.Here is a bromeliad with droopy leaves on a tree:and one on a tree with a droopy flower stalk:More evidence of how the park has fallen into disrepair!
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mehitabel
17 years ago
Congrats on getting your phals to spike. That's a lot of good growing, and you should feel smug about it :).

As to the single flower: Flowers on a phal spike do open one at a time. So it may be just the normal opening. Look real close at the tip of the spike: is there a little tight roundish tip? That tip often lengthens and forms additional buds, which will open while the 1st flower is still on.

However, that's not the only possible scenario:

it could be it's a newish plant and one flower is all it has strength for. I've had that a couple of times. In that case, be patient and your next blooming should be a lot bigger.

It could be, depending on the genetics, one of those summer-bloomers that keeps developing one flower at a time over a long period of time. I've had this, too.

So I would say, enjoy your flower and take it as a sign you are doing things right. Be a little patient and you may still get lots more flowers. Be a lot patient and you will get another spike with more flowers next year.

As long as your phals are getting good light and put out new leaves regularly, you'll get lots of flowers from them

Enjoy
richardol
17 years ago
You have crossed the biggest hurdle, initiating a spike. Next time there will be more flowers and a thicker spike. If you are not fertilizing, do that lightly all year.
eliza_iris
Original Author
17 years ago
I do spent a lot of time on the orchids. Thanks for the encouragement.

But, why is the flower stalk really thin? Can they be fertilzed while in bloom or while the stalk is coming in?

I do have two more problems. Recently, I do have bugs that eat the middle of the another orchid leaves and that drives me nuts. I cannot see the bugs.

I sprayed the orchid with insects spray purchased fron the nursery. The heart of that orchid is black. I do believed that I took care of the problem, but I am not 100% sure.

Another orchid leaves is having a round spot that is turning kind of soft and look almost transparent. What is causing this? Is the bugs spreading to this plant?

Please advise.
jane__ny
17 years ago
Are you still talking about Phals?? What do you mean that the 'heart of the orchid is black?' I don't think insect spray is the answer.

You need to post some pictures or give a more detailed explanation.

Jane

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