What is going on???

If you are referring to a phalaenopsis, that sometimes happens, and is referred-to as a “terminal spike”. In this case, ”terminal” is not meant to convey “fatal”, but that it is emanating from the growth terminus, a.k.a. “growth front”.

Basically, the meristematic (undifferentiated) tissue has somehow “decided” to grow an inflorescence, rather than leaves. When that happens, the plant will no longer grow leaves there, but don’t give up! It is very likely that a new growth front will appear somewhere on the side of the current plant, and will carry on.

Folks often refer to that as a “basal keiki”, but unlike a keiki growing on a flower spike, it will not have its own root system, allowing it to be removed, but uses the existing root system. You can think of it as being like a plant that has been “topped” to cause it to branch.

 

Can you post a photo?

If it is not a phal, what kind of orchid? I have seen paphiopedilums flower on an extremely short spike...

 

I’ve been growing orchids for almost 50 years, and that’s a new one to me!

I suspect that this is an extreme case of terminal inflorescence, and that the plant will generate a new “growth front”.

 

Very strange keep us updated

 

Just keeps getting more and more bizarre