Question
My 10 year old phalanopsis, which has bloomed faithfully in my house for the last 10 years is behaving very strangely. In the last three months, I moved it to my new greenhouse, and it promptly set two flower spikes, both long and thick.  The longest (about two feet at this point) has about four buds at the tip, but below those down the stem, is branching four additional flower stems.  I have never seen this many branches before.  Why is this happening and is it a good thing or a last gasp before death?  Should I leave them alone or remove them?

Answer
Vivian, I suspect that your phalaenopsis has higher light levels in your greenhouse and is responding with improved flowering.  As long as you have a large, strong plant (and it sounds as if you have) it should be able to support all of the flower branches.  I think this is a good thing and I would leave them alone. Any time a plant ungoes a radical change in environment the plant is likely to behave differently-- sometimes this good and sometimes not.  So far, your plant appears to favor the greenhouse but I would continue to monitor it throughout the seasons as greenhouse conditions can vary in temperature, light levels, humidity,etc.  If you have good greenhouse controls, you may find that your phalaenopsis does better all year around.   Congratulations on your care of this plant-- it appears to be thriving.