Dend Speciosum possible spike?

[SP2340]

Hello everyone! I just posted a few weeks ago about a soft cane Dend. of mine that is spiking. My first spike ever!!

Anyways I walked out on my balcony today and saw something growing out of my Dend. Speciosum. Can someone please tell me if it's new growth or a spike?



I also have this Cattleya Landate who's leaves are curling. It's in the 60's here recently so I don't know if this is normal. Thanks.



And one more question. I have 2 fertilizers. One is high in nitrogen and the other is high in phosphate. It says to use the phosphate one every forth feeding. Should I do this for plants that are not in bark? Because I know plants in bark need high nitrogen for the break down of the bark... Or should I just feed the ones that are not in bark the phosphate one only? Thank you very much.

[frostedeyes]

its a growth well we do have our own fertilizer regimen just be sure to feed them regularly. I dont think alot of people aren't that concern with the medium as for me i have diffrent mediums in my potted orchids but using the same fertilizer. Somehow my 20-20-20 fert makes my orchid blooms, others would use higher N and wait for the growth mature and swollen then switch to a lower N with a higher P to promote spike.

[frostedeyes]

i think its a keiki growth not spike. Theres no perfect formula on fertilizer not everyone has the same feeding regimen as well.

[shakkai]

That definitely looks like a growth to me. The spikes will come from the tops of the canes. (Sorry, but can't help with your Cattleya question....)

As for fertiliser... I give mine the same all year round - though they get a natural lessening of fertiliser in winter when watering decreases. Each person's regime varies depending on their growing conditions and what they are comfortable with. I was talking to one very experienced grower who has a large greenhouse who was shocked that I didn't switch fertilisers from a high N to a high P. They said 'How do you tell your plants what to do?' - I just responded that the plants get 'told' what to do by nature when the day length shortens and the temps drop. I don't need to tell them to stop growing and start blooming by withholding food. ;-)

[bonsai1504]

It looks like a growth! Growths are good as well as roots.

[Ray]

Yep. Spike of that species are terminal, and I think your plant is too young to bloom. The photos below are my "first bloom seedling", which was 42" from the tip of the spike on the left to the leaf on the far right.

[camille1585]

The close up shot is amazing Ray! This is a gorgeous orchid.

[Ray]

Rod Venger (of the now defunct Venger's Orchids of Colorado) gave me that seedling in a 3 cm pot a few years after I lost my entire collection to a freeze.

I know nothing about growing dens, so that took 10 years to get big enough to bloom under my "care".

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Ray

I know nothing about growing dens, so that took 10 years to get big enough to bloom under my "care".

Ray,
Take solace in the fact that people who dedicate there collections to growing speciosums still take that long to get speciosum seedlings to flower. var grandiflorums can take 20-30 years even with good culture.

[frostedeyes]

gee im salivating... i wanna own a speciosum how come we dont have it in the philippines so not fair !LOL!