Psychopsis spike length? - Orchid Board

camille1585 · #1 05-19-2011, 08:02 AM

This is a dumb question, but I can't find the answer. How long does a new Psychopsis spike get before blooming? My plant started a spike about 5 weeks ago and the thing is already a foot tall, and showing no signs of stopping! I know that an old spike will continue growing and blooming until it's several feet tall. I'm curious about a new spike.

RJSquirrel · #2 05-19-2011, 08:08 AM

okey now if one had read my post on psychopsis bud you would know..but for you I will repeat myself

the sections have one sheath the piece grows out of..when you get to the budding the bud has a top and a bottom sheath ..so when you get to the double sheath its a bud. A foot isnt quite tall enough about 28 to 34 inches seems to be about the standard before budding..but look for the difference in how the section grows and a bud

they are very different and takes about 3 months..mine started to spike in february and it just opened the other day.

camille1585 · #3 05-19-2011, 08:12 AM

Wow, the spike is going to be huge!!! Thanks for the tip on the sheaths.

Sorry for not seeing your post, we're in the process of moving so I don't spend very much time on OB lately.

RJSquirrel · #4 05-19-2011, 08:15 AM

thats okey

you gonna have one of these

see the upper and lower sheaths covering the bud? sections only have one of these sheaths

Paul Mc · #5 05-19-2011, 08:21 AM

MAN, I can't wait until mine starts sending up it's shoot! Patience, lol...

camille1585 · #6 05-19-2011, 08:21 AM

Cool, I know what to look for. I'm actually surprised by how quickly the spike is growing, I had heard that these were slow plants.

What's worrying me is that I'm probably going back to the Netherlands in the fall (by train) and I'll have to get the plant over there without snapping the spike...

RJSquirrel · #7 05-19-2011, 08:26 AM

the plant should have a good view ,buy him a seat by the window

camille1585 · #8 06-27-2011, 01:57 PM

Hurrah, I have a bud!!! There's a double sheath, and it's starting to get a bit fat. The spike is over 2ft long now.

ezil · #9 06-27-2011, 06:59 PM

Thanks Squirrel, I don't have a spike on mine yet, but I hate waiting for months for a bloom to open, when I expect it to be only weeks. I have a few paphs that took 2 months before the buds opened, and it was torturous. Now I too, know what to look for.