Question
I have a Phal which has flowered beautifully.  Once the flowers dropped I noticed that the leaves, which are large and good colour began to go very floppy and very soft.  It seems to have recovered from this and has thrown out a new leaf however on the two spikes which I had not cut down, it has now started to produce leaves from 2 of the nodes on each spike.  Also, I am not sure if on two of these it is a 'leaf' developing in the opposite direction to the leaves growing or it is a root developing.  Why has this happened?  I have tried to find answers in books but can't find anything.  Can I propogate the orchid from these?

Answer
Hello Kerry,

You may be in luck!  If those growths on the spikes are leaves, you may be a mother soon!  (grin)  Some phaleanopsis orchids will produce keikis (baby in Hawaiian) along the spike.  Leave them on the spike until they have roots over 2 inches long then remove them and put them in pots of their own.  To remove them, hold them between your fingers and gently rock them back and forth, if it doesn't break off after 10 tries, use a sharp cutter to cut them off.  

But before you do the above, make sure you have potting materials ready.  It would be a good idea to use 3 or 4 inch pots for them.  Look for a medium grade orchid potting mix at your local garden center or nursery.  To pot them, place some mix in the bottom of the pot, position the phal. in the center and fill the pot with mix.  Gently compress the mix then add more to fill it to the rim.  That's about it.  Put the newly potted keikis in a warm shady place for 2 to 3 weeks then you can move them close to the mother to grow larger.  

Hope this helps.  Good luck and good growing.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.