I was looking thru some of my plants today when I noticed one of my Dtps. Fire Cracker 'Blue Martini' s had a spike.
But it's not a normal spike that comes from the side of the stem, but is coming from the very center where a new leaf should be.

Is this an issue with culture? How common it this?

sweetjblue

In my experience, very common with Doritis hybrid. After the flowers are done, this plant will produce basal keiki. More than likely - the keiki will produce a terminal spike again.

The new growth turning into a bloom spike is caused by the growing tip gaining or losing chromosomes to become aneuploid. This is a dead end for that growing tip. After flowering, cut off the bloom spike to initiate new basal growths. This can happen on any plant , hybrid or species although some are more prone to it than others. Any kieki or stem prop of the abnormal spike will carry the same problem. The new basal growths should be normal. I have a couple of hybrid phals that have done this and the new growths have all been normal and continue to be normal years later.
Dean

Thank you Peter & Dean.

Good thing I asked. I would have potted up any keikis from the spike!

Would I be better off to foresake the blooms this time around and just cut the spike now so the plant can put its energy into making basal keikis? I'd hate to miss the blooms but I'd like to do what would be best for the health of the plant.



sweetjblue

No - let it flower and just enjoy it. Afterall, your reason for buying this plant in the first place is to enjoy the flowers. Once it finished flowering and later this year, or next spring - keep an closer eye on the keiki. I would remove the keiki as soon as it has enough roots to support itself. I have a plant that I did not remove keiki - I just let it run its course. The main plant died back..so I still have a new single growth - that did exactly the same thing - growing an inflorescence from the middle.

I have had 2-3 other plants that did not do this in prior year but last year developed a terminal spike.

I have to disagree on letting the spike grow and flower. By doing this you let more stem develop from the aneuploid tissue and your new eyes that give rise to new basal kiekis will develop from this and likely be also prone to terminal spike problems. Cut it off now and force the basal keikies to develop from older stem tissue that may be free of the aneuploidy that is taking over the growing point of this plant. Otherwise you will have to cut the new growth back too. I have had to cut the new growing area back as many as three time to get rid of aneuploid tissue giving rise to terminal spikes. On many plants the terminal spike will happen only once due to cultural problems but in others the problem is genetic and usually due to aneuploidy. If your plant continues to do this I'd replace it with one that has better genetics.
Dean

Dean,

as an example, lets says I cut back the spike now and the plant then develops more than one basal keiki. One of the keikis is on the older part of the plant stem and another is on new stem closer to the part that may have aneuploidy tissue. Would you yourself cut off the keiki on the newer part of the stem to try and avoid another aneuploidy plant?

I believe that I would flower any basal kiekis that result and hope for the best.
Dean

Well Dean I took your advice & went ahead and did it. Just cut the spike off.

Could you tell me what to look for in aneuploid tissue? Is it usually where the leafs have ridges or are somewhat tri-lobed? Are there any other signs to watch out for?


sweetjblue

Ridged or odd shaped leaves are common with aneuploidy. I do not believe that I would try to remove any tissue other than the spike. Hopefully a new growth will come out below the aneuploid growing point that contributed to the terminal spike.
Dean

Thanks for all your advice, now its time to just wait.

sweetjblue