Another bag baby orchid that finally bloomed... - Orchid Board

Jeff214 · #1 06-03-2020, 09:01 PM

It's been five years since I bought this bag baby (Dendrobium Hawaii Stripes). The first few blooms have been a little different, even on the same spike. Some den-phal like, some more latouria? like.

It's not exactly what I was hoping for. After five years, I'm disappointed but mildly attached (being annoyed by it for years!)

If you have a recalcitrant seedling, how long have you waited before you "moved on"? I was just listening to Arthur E Chadwick's webinar that his father waited 19 years for one of his prized C. lueddemanniana to bloom! Among my friends and colleagues, most consider me quite patient... but maybe not quite that much!

Roberta · #2 06-03-2020, 09:09 PM

I hate to give up on anything... I tend to hang 'em up and ignore them until they bloom, or not, don't even notice the laggards. I guess that is what happens when one has the jungle that I have. I HAVE had things bloom after 10-12 years. Then, it's "WOW!"

Jeff214 · #3 06-03-2020, 10:16 PM

I really hate giving up on my plants. I "only" have ~100 orchids and I know exactly which one's been refusing to cooperate, haha...

I got a bunch of seedlings from SVO this year (Fred was great). We'll see how long these take to flower...

The only other plant that's tested my patience was a good hope clivia, which took 8 years from seed to bloom...

Roberta · #4 06-03-2020, 10:21 PM

That cliva was worth the wait. Beautiful.

Fairorchids · #5 06-03-2020, 10:21 PM

At North Jersey OS, one member brought in a beautiful Ascocenda hybrid in bloom, the plant was about 3 feet tall, and had two nice spikes with orange flowers.

She purchased it from an ad in The Readers Digest, and this was the first blooming - 22 years later!

DirtyCoconuts · #6 06-03-2020, 11:02 PM

wow-Kim

i am blessed with space so i never give up on anything...to me it's just more green...also, i tend to blame myself - if it isn't blooming, i must be doing something wrong lol

Roberta · #7 06-03-2020, 11:47 PM

Kim, that's special. That Ascocenda was worth waiting for. Reader's Digest... that's one out of the past!

JScott · #8 06-04-2020, 08:13 AM

I love those bag babies from Lowes. Some people turn their noses up at them, but I just don't get that. Yes, they are young, and probably somewhat dehydrated from not being watered, but they are mostly mericlones of popular varieties, some of them awarded, and it's a great way to add to your collection for not a lot of money.

The only problem I see with them is that they are so small when you buy them you think to yourself, "That's a tiny plant, I can make room for one more tiny plant, no big deal. I'm gonna get it. Maybe I'll get five. I can make room for five plant in two inch pots," but then, a few years later that plant that came in a two inch pot is now in an 8 inch pot and you're struggling with how to make room for those five plants that you bought when they were so small hahahahahahaha

And I do in fact have a recalcitrant seedling. I think it is LC Mini Purple. I've had it about five years, and the growths just are not getting bigger. They all come out the same seedling size, and has yet to bloom. I think I might hang on to it for another couple years and if it doesn't get its stuff together and act right, I'll find a new home for it, and if nobody wants, I'll compost it.

My Green Pets · #9 06-05-2020, 03:07 AM

I bought a flask of about 20 Cattleya rex seedlings in 2014, and five years later the first two bloomed. Meanwhile, 3 of them are still under 10 cm tall! I wouldn't be surprised if they need another 5 years at least before they bloom, bringing the grand total to 11 years from flask (and 14 from seed).

I was advised to be patient with them as they may be polyploid, which would mean slow-growing, but ultimately larger plants and flowers.

Jeff214 · #10 06-05-2020, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JScott

The only problem I see with them is that they are so small when you buy them you think to yourself, "That's a tiny plant, I can make room for one more tiny plant, no big deal. I'm gonna get it. Maybe I'll get five. I can make room for five plant in two inch pots," but then, a few years later that plant that came in a two inch pot is now in an 8 inch pot and you're struggling with how to make room for those five plants that you bought when they were so small hahahahahahaha

I think these are great when starting out. Relatively inexpensive and good variety that you don't normally see in big box stores. I was more of a fruit grower... until one fateful winter. Bored, as most of my plants were dormant, I found these bag babies.

I did the same thing. I was soon overrun with a dozen of these things... and now five or so years later, my Den spectabile is in a 9" pot... haha... (and no blooms yet...)

Quote:

Originally Posted by CambriaWhat

I bought a flask of about 20 Cattleya rex seedlings in 2014, and five years later the first two bloomed. Meanwhile, 3 of them are still under 10 cm tall! I wouldn't be surprised if they need another 5 years at least before they bloom, bringing the grand total to 11 years from flask (and 14 from seed).

I was advised to be patient with them as they may be polyploid, which would mean slow-growing, but ultimately larger plants and flowers.

I've been following your posts - they're absolutely fantastic and worth the wait! It's made me want to try a flask. I've wanted a C. rex and C. Triumphans for ages, but it's usually hundreds of dollars for any size. Next time I see a flask, I may give it a try.