Flower Spikes not Unfolding

[Kari]

Hello,

My Phalaenopsis has had flower spikes for a couple of weeks now, but
the won't unfold. We had a major cool down for a couple weeks which I
suspect initiated the spikes, however now they seem frozen in time.
Shouldn't they have unfolded by now, and is there anything I can do to
help them unfold? There is a photo of this here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/karirohl/3896922512/ .

Thank you!

[orchid doctor]

Dear Kari:

I do not see a new inflorescence in your flickr image, so if there is
one on the plant, I cannot comment on its state of development. What I
do see is a keiki ("baby plant") forming at a node on an old bloomed
out inflorescence. It has several new roots, and is at a point where
it should be removed and potted up on its own in a small pot with fine
or medium grade orchid bark (see my page on repotting).

Phalaenopsis can produce these keikis as a result of the parent
species in the hybrid, with some species doing this regularly. However
they will also do this if they have been over watered, have lost roots
due to a decomposed potting mix, or any other time that roots are in
decline. So you really want to check out what is going on under the
surface of the pot, and make sure you are allowing the potting mix to
become barely moist between watering.

A new inflorescence will emerge from the base of the plant, or from
between lower leaves, and from the time it is first seen, to the
opening of the buds will take as long as 5 months, depending on the
conditions under which the plant is grown. This is generally the time
of year that a new inflorescence appears, but as i said, i do not see
one in the image you have posted.

Sincerely,
Dennis