Roots vs Spikes - Orchid Board

khozmo · #1 08-08-2009, 04:47 PM

Hello Forum,

I have a bunch of oncidium rescues three of them have no roots (they are in S/H) but I see what looks like flower spikes.

I am pretty sure I know the answer to the question but I am going to ask anyway.

Should I cut the flower spikes off now (they are about 2 inches) and let the plant ,hopefully, redirect its energy to putting out some roots.

Also are the any tricks to getting these rescues to put out some roots. The three rootless plants have about two or three older pbulbs and one new pbulb.

On a side note I have just moved a couple of phals into S/H media. I removed them from sphag. I soaked them for about an hour before I tried to remove the sphag but it was still super compacted. While I removed the sphag I know I cracked some of the thicker roots. I did not break the vein in the middle only the velum. I have seen a bunch of orchids that have broken roots but it looks like the root is still functioning. Should I cut these roots off or let them heal and figure themselves out?

RosieC · #2 08-08-2009, 05:06 PM

Hi Khozmo,

I would remove the spikes personally. I always go for trying to get the plant to be strong even if that means not getting flowers for a long while.

I have broken Phal roots while repotting and if they are snapped but still have the inner vein I leave them on. They seem to still keep growing even if this has happened so I can only assume they are still working.

khozmo · #3 08-08-2009, 06:27 PM

I cast my vote the same way. The plant comes first.

Would love to see what type of flowers it has. Plus if I had the flowers I think my wife would be happier about my new found "hobby". (I think I might been bitten by that orchid bug thats been going around)

Bye bye spike (for now)

RosieC · #4 08-08-2009, 06:38 PM

Ah that orchid bug is a bad one. It's got me bad just now with 5 orchids having been ordered/bought within 4 days of each other.

On wednesday I ordered two on behalf of my hubby as an aniversary present for me (they arrived on Thursday).

On Friday I ordered the intermediate project plant and a travelling companion (expecting those next week).

Today I bought a discount one at a local garden center.

I don't think hubby was expecting so many when he offered to buy some for our aniversary

khozmo · #5 08-08-2009, 06:53 PM

Do you have a greenhouse or something? Or do you just sprinkle them around the house.

I think this is all my mother in laws fault... She bought me a phal when my son was born. It almost died while we took him to South Africa for a month. (no one watered it). When we got back all the flowers were dead and one of the spikes was dead. I cut the other spike halfway and it recently flowered again, only six flowers but hey better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

I then rescued one phal and 3 oncidiums from my mothers garden. The oncidiums I stupidly split down into about 6 plants all with no roots. Some of those have roots now some not. I also treated my wife to three phals from home depot for our anniversary (I think that was more of a gift for me). I have moved all of these plants into S/H. I also stole some Keiki epidendrum from my aunt so I have amassed a small collection in a very short time. Maybe a month or two. My wife would really like her dining room back. She says its not a welfare center for orchids

Once all these plants have roots I am going to have to do something about the various bugs they seem to be suffering from. Scale, mealy bugs etc.

I guess if this "hobby" was easy there would be no fun in it.

Ross · #6 08-08-2009, 07:29 PM

OK, I'll be the odd one. Let the spikes develop. Oncidiums rarely form new roots on mature pseudobulbs. After the bloom, the plant should go on to start new pseudobulbs and roots. The spikes are a result of stored energy in the mature bulbs. Just my 2 cents.

khozmo · #7 08-08-2009, 08:03 PM

Ross,

The spikes are coming out of the new pbulbs that have no roots. If it was coming out of the older pbulbs I probably would have left them.

I have already cut the spike off. With much angst.

neb · #8 08-09-2009, 12:02 AM

Just keep the humidity and temp around 80 and they will be fine, you will probably see new bulbs develop that will grow new roots.

Blueszz · #9 08-09-2009, 08:12 AM

I would cut the spike and force it to put out a new growth (bubl) sooner. You'll get new roots from the new growths.

About the Phal. with some damaged roots after removing the sphag. I wouldn't remove these roots, they are still functional if the inner string is OK. You have a wound (entrance) for bacterial infection but if you cut these roots, you also are left with a wound... so as long as they are functional I would leave them on the plant.

Just my thoughts

Nicole

katrina · #10 08-09-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khozmo

Once all these plants have roots I am going to have to do something about the various bugs they seem to be suffering from. Scale, mealy bugs etc.

Personally...I would work on ridding the plant of any pests now. If you have scale/mealies/anything munching on your already weak plants...these pests will further weaken the plants and/or cause other problems.