A couple of really dumb Phal questions

[eaglssong]

I feel really stupid asking about this, but there is so much terminology and stuff to learn, that I'm really not sure what this is (a bud, or what??):



It's that green thing that's growing in between two blooms that are standing back to back so to speak.

Also, as you can see in this photo, one of the flowers is really drooping and looking like it's going to fall off soon. Should I just let it do its thing, or am I supposed to pinch it off?



Thanks for putting up with my dumb questions. Hopefully, some day I'll have enough knowledge to help another newbie.

[clintdawley]

Not dumb questions at all.

The little "knobby" green thing is part of the inflorescence and will most likely continue to elongate and develop more buds...just watch it and you'll see if the plant decides to produce more flowers--sometimes it doesn't.

The droopy flower is about to drop. I never remove flowers but wait until they fall on their own. however, if you decide to remove the flower no harm is done.

[eaglssong]

Thank you so much. There are a couple of those green things, and I can't wait to see what they'll do (if anything).

As for droopy, I think I'll just leave it be until it decides when it's had enough

This site is the best. There's always a helpful person to answer our questions and concerns!!

[Cjcorner]

Phals sometimes are called sequential bloomers. They will only have a few flowers at a time, but as they age new ones develop along the spike. Sometimes, depending on what plants were crossed, they will bloom like this for years at a time. I have a yellow that has a two foot spike and it's still going...it never has more than 3 flowers at a time, but it has been in bloom now for about 9 months. And the flowers are still large, beautiful and the plant is in active growth as well. So obviously it's not a drain on the plant. I continue to feed it once a week, and it continues to be beautiful.
You sound like you found one of these...enjoy it as they are not so easy to find all the time!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Seems like your questions were well answered. I will just add that I, personally, would just pinch off the dead blooms.

Cheers,
BD

[eaglssong]

Seems like your questions were well answered. I will just add that I, personally, would just pinch off the dead blooms.

Cheers,
BD

Won't have to Bruce. That's the spike I was talking about in the other thread. The one that isn't attached to a plant!!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Won't have to Bruce. That's the spike I was talking about in the other thread. The one that isn't attached to a plant!!

ohhh so sorry.

Cheers,
BD