If you mean the spike generated from inside the crown, that's usually not a good sign. Nice that you got something good from Rita :)

Have had a few do that.
Several times, a keiki has formed at the first node after the spike has bloomed and been cut back. OR the plant throws off a new plant at the base.
Hang in there with it!
Jan

This is the phal. that is in question. It looks to be very healthy with very long leaves and a mass of roots that have attached to the bark of the trunk.

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Hi there, would you please explain to an 'orchird newbie' like myself why a Phal that's spiking from the center of the crown not a good thing as I've not heard about this? Obviously it must have an adverse effect on the orchid by what is being said so would cutting the spike off when it's very small then stop this happenening (whatever it is)? Thanks!
Gill.

Gill, with a phal, the center or crown is where new growth is generated. As Jan said the plant will probably make either a kieki on the spike or a basal kieki. It is an exceptionally healthy looking plant. Removing the spike? I honestly don't know. Perhaps someone else can answer that query.

Might as well enjoy the blooms.
Cutting off the spike will not change the mind of the plant to grow a spike instead of a leaf.
After it blooms, you can cut the spike back toward the base, but leave a few nodes for it to make a keiki if it wants to. OR leave it long enough to see if a keiki forms at the very end of the spike.
Jan

I will leave it and enjoy the flowers. As I said, I got them in very bad condition on clearance sale. So if it sends out a keiki, I'll reap the rewards of another plant at which I think it would be best to just train it to root to the trunk of the cedar tree below it's mother plant. Should I snip it after its rooted? We will discuss it when the time comes, like they say, don't count your chicks before they hatch!

Sorry but it's me again, the orchid newbie!!...so what you are saying is now that it has produced a spike from the centre and not a new leaf, it will not grow any more leaves?? If this is so, I also take this to mean it will not get any bigger (but may produce a keiki)and therefore not produce any more flowering spikes...assuming that spikes have formed from above all its other leaves and once a leaf has formed a spike above it wont ever do that again? Correct?....or am I really missing something important here folks? Just need to know!
Thanks, Gill.

Phalaenopsis grow from a center crown. If for some reason the crown is injured, the plant will try to renew itself by growing a keiki. These keikis can grow very rapidly because the mother has stopped growing and is using all the power of her root system to feed the baby. The keikis, once established, will then throw off spikes and bloom exactly like the mother plant. The original plant may gradually die away as the keiki gains strength. When this happens, you will have a perfectly formed new plant that should behave exactly like the parent.

When a spike grows from the center of a Pahl. is it known as a terminal spike. Think of it as a Bromeliad now. A Brom flowers once and then produces pups before the parent plant dies. This orchid will have to do the same thing as it's growth has stopped. You will need to wait a bit to see if it's going to produce a basal offset or a keiki.

Good luck! I have an old orhcid doing the same thing right now and I'm hoping for a new offset some time this summer.