What plants show you it's spring? - Orchid Board

Blueszz · #1 03-04-2009, 10:25 AM

For a lot of people on this forum it's getting spring. I love this time of the year. A lot of my plants are putting out new growths, leaves and/or roots. Days are getting longer, the light brighter, birds are singing and I even spotted the first lady bug.

My Phal's started root growth several weeks/months ago, but 2 weeks ago I saw new leafs emerging on several of them.
The orchids belonging to the Oncidium Alliance all have new pseudo bulbs growing (or are still in spike) and the lovely white and green roots seem to come from everywhere.
The slipper grows steadily, started his two growth right after blooming.
Dendrobium Phal. types plants didn't do well for me last year. I killed almost one of them (hardly roots left) but on both of them I see new roots and in one I could detect a new pseudo bulb peeping above the medium. My Den. nobile type, still in flower, is showing two new pseudo bulbs just above medium level.
A while ago a bought a few cheap "Cambria", one of them, labeled as Odontocidum NOID lost his flower within a day and the leaves were droopy, pseudo bulbs too shriveled. I kept it very dry and repotted it last week. Aaaaw those roots were so rotted! I almost wanted to to throw the ps. bulbs away but decided to give it a chance and potted it up again. I needed a stalk to keep the pseudo bulb up right. Now one week later it shows me it's really happy and pushing out a lot of new roots, woooooohoooooo. They are so hardy!

I repotted a lot of plants, including the slipper I purchased half a year ago. I was surprised to see the roots still were pretty good and that I saw some new roots, still tiny nubs.
My Ludisia grows slowly and I'm still not sure if it's happy or not... too less experience with this plant but a piece that broke of per accident is rooting.

So, I love this season. Every day I detect new growths, I notice the increased water needs... or needs to repot (still a few to go).

camille1585 · #2 03-04-2009, 04:12 PM

I was just thinking of that a few days ago. The orchids that stayed behind in France are under lights, so they've been active all winter, growing roots, leaves and spikes.

As for here, the growing day lengths are having an effect on my orchids (which don't have growlights yet). One of my Neos has new roots, the phals that finished blooming are starting new leaves, and my phal seedlings are growing new roots. Hopefully my Neo 'shutennu's stalled spike(4 months so far) will start growing again.

But I think the clearest signs of spring so far are the snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils , as well as the early blooming trees. I saw the first lamb of the season last week, and the birds are singing!

Beverly · #3 03-04-2009, 04:46 PM

Here in Connecticut the birds are not singing yet. The crocuses that where starting to come up are buried under a foot of snow. On the brighter side, most of my Phals have big buds that will open soon. I have a Paph thats taking his time opening, and all the other bloomers are keeping our spirts up.
I think today is going to be the last truely freezing day here (under 20)( Icant do the degree sign either).

Beverly

Blueszz · #4 03-04-2009, 05:10 PM

So Camille, artificial light is a thing I *must* have next winter. Otherwise a lot of the plants won't florish, only survive. BTW the sphag that I kept indoors on a bed of dead sphag is growing better than the container that holds coconut fibers. The live sphag really loves 1.5 cm of dead soaking sphag to rest on!

Beverly, I can't believe it's still that cold in Connecticut. I hope spring take over soon!

Nicole

Miyuki · #5 03-04-2009, 08:27 PM

Spring for me is having my phals in bloom. Friday we had over a foot of snow dumped on us, followed by minus 30 degrees C (not sure of F-conversion)for the past few days. Outdoor spring is still a long way off. Nothing brightens my mood better than smiling at these beautiful blooms!

Blueszz · #6 03-05-2009, 06:15 AM

That's so pretty!
-30C = -22 F

I always use Google for my concersions. It's so easy to do: Just type convert -30C to F and search

It works for other conversions too, like convert 1ft to cm or convert 1 US Gallon to liter

1 ft of snow and -22F, doesn't sound like spring

Your blooming Phals do! It's a beautiful display which at least warms year heart!

Royal · #7 03-05-2009, 10:21 AM

Oh, I love this time of the year too. My orchids are showing new growth, some in spike. My Bletilla has already popped up and showing spikes. One patch has 25+ spikes - it'll be quite a show. I'm a big outdoor gardener, so spring is the best!

Donald · #8 03-05-2009, 11:55 AM

Well, here in Massachusetts the new fallen snow is melting and by Monday bare ground should be visible.
I have a "Cat" in full bloom, two "Phals". a Dendrobium in bud along with a "Masdie". That plus the Amaryllis in the sun room are having a grand time peeking out from the soil. Great time of the year.
Donald