How does the flower stalk grow in phalaenopsis: how long does it take, how does it look in the photo and how to distinguish it from the root, and also what to do if it breaks down?

The ranks of orchid growers are constantly replenishing: this wonderful flower leaves no one indifferent, and many, having received a phalaenopsis as a present, light up the desire to grow and plant many orchids at home.

To do this, you need to know a lot about the plant and, first of all, about its flower-bearing shoot or, as it is often called, a flower-bearing stalk.

From the article you will learn how it looks in the photo and how to distinguish it from the root and the baby, how long it grows, what to do in case of different problems with the peduncle.

What it is?

Definition

The peduncle, or arrow, of the phalaenopsis represents the shoot, which goes up from the base of the plant, forming a high curved spike.

It is on it that flowers will subsequently grow (hence the name, in fact).

At the initial stage of development of the peduncle of phalaenopsis an inexperienced gardener can confuse the peduncle with the root or even a baby orchid. How to understand that this is just a flower-bearing shoot?

How to distinguish from root and baby?

It differs from the root in shape: if it is rounded at the root, then it is conical at the peduncle.
From the basal baby the flower stalk can be distinguished when it grows up a little, then its tip takes the form of a boat.
A flower-bearing shoot is born only from the sinus of a leaf, or rather, from the base of its central vein.
As a rule, the arrow pecks above the place of the previous flowering.
When buds appear on the peduncle, it can no longer be confused with any other part of the phalaenopsis.

The main difference between the arrow and any part of the plant: even on a very young peduncle, you can see irregularities that look like small spikes or scales - these are sleeping buds. Flower stalk - the most important part of the orchid, figuratively speaking, the heart of the plant.

The flower stalk provides all the beauty of the plant, since flowers form on it from the buds, and in addition, each phalaenopsis has a growing tip on the flower stalk, and while it is lively and green, you can always count on it to continue to give more and more buds .

How to distinguish a peduncle from a root?

Photo

In the photos below, you can see how the flower stalk of the phalaenopsis grows.

Care Features

The period of growth of the peduncle is of great importance, because it depends on how you care for the plant at this time, whether your phalaenopsis will please you with flowers, or you will only admire its foliage.

Enough light. In the autumn-winter period of natural light, a plant may be sufficient only in one case - if the window on which the pot stands is facing the south side. In all other cases, additional lighting is necessary with a special phytolamp. Daylight hours for the phalaenopsis shooter must last at least 12 hours.
Optimum humidity mode. Phalaenopsis loves moisture, and in winter in the dry air of our apartments it is not enough. Hence the recommendation: use a humidifier, especially since it is useful for people. Watering at this time is carried out as usual - as the substrate dries in the pot. This parameter is individual, it depends on the temperature and humidity in the room.IMPORTANT! The substrate in the pot cannot be brought to a completely dry state, this can ruin the phalaenopsis. It should be watered when the substrate is still slightly (the keyword “slightly”!) Is wet inside.
Direct spraying to a plant with a peduncle is not required, and can even ruin a young sprout. Just place the pot in the depths of the group of flowers that you will spray, and the phalaenopsis that forms in this case will be quite enough.
And finally, the right thing is very important plant nutrition. Fertilizer during the laying of the peduncle and subsequent budding should contain a large amount of phosphorus and potassium. It is highly desirable that this be a mineral fertilizer specifically designed for orchids. Top dressing is carried out no more than 1-2 times a month, and with the appearance of flowers, they are suspended.

Growth characteristic

When and how?

In ordinary phalaenopsis, the peduncle forms on average in two months, in hybrid - in three.

This time includes the period immediately from the moment the stalk appears to the peduncle already formed.

Options for how fast the arrow grows are possible depending on the conditions. If the owner provides his green friend with the necessary lighting, a sufficiently humid environment and a temperature comfortable for developing the shoot (from 25 degrees), the process is accelerated by 1.5-2 times.

The development of lateral peduncle occurs somewhat faster - in a month and a half.

More about when exactly the flowering of the phalaenopsis occurs and how long this period lasts, we talked about here.

How many of them usually happen?

In Russian flower shops, you can usually buy phalaenopsis with 2-3 peduncles. There are also instances with a large number of peduncles. In plants at home, the number of arrows released varies depending on the particular type of phalaenopsis, its state of health, and care conditions.

Step-by-step instructions on how to get an even escape

First of all, you need to make sure that at the phalaenopsis the flowering arrow has gone up. How to distinguish it from the root and the baby is described above.

When the flower stalk is strong enough and grows to a length of 15-20 cm, it must be fixed in a vertical position.
The arrow is tied to a support in a pot. It is most convenient to use a special clothespin for this (they are sold cheaply in flower shops), but you can also take a simple elastic band or hair clip-crab.
If the peduncle cannot be attached, you can simply rotate the pot as the peduncle deviates to the side. The arrow will reach for the light and, thus, align.

Proper fastening of the peduncle for an even escape.

Possible problems and solutions

It happens that the peduncle or grows somehow "wrong", or even absent.

Unfortunately, a plant injury is also possible when the arrow breaks. For beginners, such abnormal situations cause a lot of unrest.

No need to panic. We will deal with each of these cases and consider what the grower should do.

Emergence from a growth point

Arrow grows from a growth point - this happens with the elderly phalaenopsissurvived many flowering cycles. Another reason is the severe stress experienced by the plant. This is the case when the owner of the plant does not need to do anything. Just look after your darling as usual. Perhaps the arrow will still give buds or a baby.

The flower stalk has broken

What to do? Just cut the peduncle to the kidney closest to the fracture site, and treat the cut site - powder with activated charcoal or cinnamon powder. In no case do not try to connect the debris with tape or electrical tape, as some inexperienced lovers try to do, in the hope that their orchid will "grow together." This will only harm the plant; it may begin to dry out!

Not at all

What to do to the owner of the "lazy" phalaenopsis, how to still grow a flower stalk? If the plant is not in a hurry with the pasture of the arrow, you can give it a little shake - place it in a darker place than usual and water it less often than before (of course, without bringing it to complete drought). If possible, at night it is better to lower the temperature for phalaenopsis by 5-6 degrees. Experienced flower growers make plants that sleep even a year or more in this way bloom.

Stopped developing

It happens that the peduncle grows to a sufficient length and even gives a few buds, and then suddenly stops growing.

Yesdi phalaenopsis has stopped growing action algorithm:

First of all, you should make sure whether the orchid is healthy. Perhaps the cause is some kind of disease or pest.
Analyze the conditions of your phalaenopsis - is there enough light for it, is the humidity and temperature regime respected, is there enough food for it?
If, after treatment and the establishment of optimal conditions, the peduncle remains frozen, the most reasonable is to take a wait-and-see tactic and observe the arrow. If it has not dried up, there is a chance that someday a green friend will still please you with flowers.

You can learn more about the main reasons for the lack of phalaenopsis blooming here, and from this article you will learn how to make an orchid blossom at home.

What to do after flowering?

After phalaenopsis has faded, the peduncle has such developmental options:

it turns yellow and dries up - in this case it is necessary to cut it off at the very base, and sprinkle the resulting slice (stump) for disinfection with chalk, powdered cinnamon or wood ash;
only the apical kidney dries, it is better to cut a branch with it to the first lower kidney;
it remains intact, with a green tip and sleeping buds, that is, it may very well soon (or not very soon) give new flowers. In this case, you do not need to do anything with the peduncle.

For details on how to care for an orchid after flowering, read a separate article.

We look at the video how the pruning of the dried peduncle occurs.

Conclusion

So, now you know the importance of a flower-bearing shoot for an orchid and how to correctly solve its possible problems. Keep track of your phalaenopsis flower stalkand the plant will thank you with beautiful flowers.