Do you have a photo? Hard to know what you mean. The short stem can be because you cut it back. If you leave a node on the stem it could grow from there. Best thing is to cut the spike back to the plant so it forces the plant to make a new one.

Doesn't sound like a problem. The 'lusterless leaves' could be something else. Without a photo, hard to advise.

Jane

I had the same problem as Jane with your description of the short stem. I had to smile at your description of your climate as very mild, where this orchid grows in nature in the North Eastern part of Australia the temperature would never go below about 20C.

Sounds like your culture is pretty good and only some sort of minor adjustment is needed to make it even better.

I read that it can be too much light?

Funny..I read that cooler temps will elongate spikes! Do we know???

I grew Phals in NY outdoors in summer and under lights in winter. We now live in Florida and grow all outside. You are growing an Amabilis indoors which should flower for you.

When I grew Phals in NY under lights in winter, I would pull the plants slowly back from the light source as the spike started growing. I wanted long spikes to display and learned the spike heads for the light and will stretch to get closer. Not sure with an Amabilis whether it will act the same as regular Phals but you might try that.

As the spike begins to form, start moving the plant further back from the light so the spike has to keep growing to reach the light. It's a slow process but worked for me with regular Phals. I did not do that with Amabilis as I grew them in lower light but always got a good, long spike.

Jane