Laelia anceps Photo: Spike forming?

[GardenTheater]

The attached photo is of a Laelia ancepts I got in fall in spike. In the front of photo is a new large growth with leaf forming. (Wow, I didn't know they appear to be folded in half--fun to watch for first time.) There is an oval shadow in what seems to be a sheath and p-bulb forming. Is that shadow a spike developing? (I hope....I hope.) Thanks.

P.S. This one is from SBOE. They grow in granite. That's amazing for me whose experience is with good ol' dirt. This is so clean.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It doesn't look like a spike to me.

That bulge is a pseudobulb forming.

[GardenTheater]

Thanks so much for taking a look! Might the spike come later or is this one likely to be just bulb and leaf?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

In my opinion, your Laelia anceps will not bloom until at least 1 or 2 years from now.

If it does end up blooming earlier than what I stated, great, but I wouldn't count on it.

If you've ever grown a Cattleya or something like Laelia tenebrosa or Laelia purpurata, they bloom the same way - through a "sheath" (I'm sure there's a technical term for it, but I don't currently know what it is).

I know that some Cattleyas don't put out an inflorescence from a sheath, but rather from the rhizome (ie. Cattleya walkeriana), I'm not referring to these.

[GardenTheater]

Thanks Phillip. I'm new to orchids and have alot of naive questions. It's good to know how long it takes.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Eh, everyone's gotta start somewhere.