Bill, I just hate that. I did that dropping one on the floor, which was about 3 feet tall and took weeks to bloom. Then another one when I was moving it and when I was reaching over I snapped it off with my elbow. For me, they don't grow back like a Phal would.(

Some plants will regenerate and continue the spike. Just let it be and see what happens.

It was a loop, where the tip was wedged down into the next leaf. Now it's half a loop, so the part that was pointing upwards is still there and green, but so far no sign of regenerating. But the other spike is fine and growing. I feel bad because this would have been the first time for multiple spikes. I'll wait and see how the broken one does.

Update: Just the other day I was enjoying the blooming spike (which has two branches this time!), and to my surprise, I noticed the other spike that I had snapped off in early March is resprouting and is already about eight inches tall! So I guess oncidiums do have the ability to recover from broken spikes. Good to know.

Replies or comments?

The spike continued to grow because it was still growing. A broken spike cannot continue to grow after it has finished. Some plants will branch a spike but it would have done that anyway.

Not sure what you are saying, but your experience is not unusual. A growing spike will continue to grow unless you broke the spike off completely. You didn't lose the entire spike, therefore it continues to grow.

Jane

Jane if you read the first post you would see where the pseudobulb produced two separate flower spikes this season, around February. This was the first time this plant was mature enough to do so. One of the spikes, growing out of one side of the bulb, grew well and is in flower now, even having two side branches. The other spike on the opposite side of the bulb, was starting out bent over in February, looking like a loop instead of a straight up spike. The growing tip appeared to be caught down back into the leaf joint to the bulb. I thought I might be able to straighten it, but in the process, I snapped it off, down to maybe one inch. That stub turned brown and hard as far as I could see. But now it has sent up a new growth which is currently about eight or ten inches high. I can't tell if it is a whole new spike, or if it grew from the lower part of the broken spike because that part is down between the leaf and the bulb, and just not visible. Either way, I am enjoying the best ever flowering from this particular plant.

Bill wow, who would of guessed. I’m happy for you. I’m sure it’s exciting.

Mike, it has bloomed before, but it was a younger plant that I have had for only three seasons. So, yes, this time not only does it have two separate flower spikes (even though I broke that one that's come back!) but the one that's flowering now has two side branches, and in the past I've never had branched spikes.

Bill,

For what it is worth, when I have that issue I try to split the leaf down the center fold to free the spike, this usually doesn't hurt the leaf too much. I've had better success with that method than trying to 'pry' the spike out of the fold. My experience is the same as yours, after breaking generally the spikes continue developing by generating a new grow point.

They are pretty tough plants if given the right conditions.

Bob

Bob, that was the first time that had happened, so I won't try that again. Amazing how fast the spikes grow on some orchids.