Spitting Mad

[jrodpad]

The broken spike in the bud vase lingered for a bit but eventually withered without blooming. I did still manage to get one beautiful bloom on the stup of the spike that was cracked. About 2 weeks after it faded and dropped off I noted a new spike shooting up from a second p-bulb. Looks like this little gem's not done just yet. I'll post a sentry this time to make sure that no one jostled it around. Thanks for all of the commiseration.

Best,

-J

[mattryan]

Happy to hear that J congrats. I'm pretty sure we've all been there done that. Probably put the fear of god into that orchid. Some say shouting at an orchid occasionally gets things done

[Wrebbitrocks]

put up a camera so you can see anything that happens to it in the future, god forbid

[Cavs n' Orchids]

I feel your pain! I have a huge cattleya that is a labiata cross, and only flowers once a year. It normally only produces 1 flower, but this year made 2. It was just days away from opening, and I came downstairs one morning last week, and my f#$@*%& cats chewed them to pieces!!! I was close to tears over it!! (and wishing I lived in a pet free house!!)

[silken]

Originally Posted by jrodpad

The broken spike in the bud vase lingered for a bit but eventually withered without blooming. I did still manage to get one beautiful bloom on the stup of the spike that was cracked. About 2 weeks after it faded and dropped off I noted a new spike shooting up from a second p-bulb. Looks like this little gem's not done just yet. I'll post a sentry this time to make sure that no one jostled it around. Thanks for all of the commiseration.

Best,

-J

We'll look forward to photos here of the new blooms!

My cat bit the bud off my masdie this summer and I knocked a new growth off a cattleya. It had a small root on it so I potted it and it now has a long root and a new one just starting. The plant it came from grew two new growths.

[Bud]

That would stress me out bigtime...and demand who was the culprit...so no one attempts to go near my plants ever!
But you are going to have a bigger better bloom since you lost the first ones...the plant will give the second bloom more energy...
@Jonada...a stillborn...thats very sad indeed

[cythaenopsis]

I wonder... if a spike is every broken like that, can you mend it in any way? Reposition it back to normal and then tape up with pliable but firm medical tape?

[Leafmite]

I am the sole destructive agent of growths, buds and blooms on my orchids. My dogs, rabbit, and children never touch the orchids. It would be great to have someone else to blame. Last winter and spring was especially bad so I bought a Psychopsis Mendenhall for the leaves so I'd have something pretty even if I knocked off that spike!
I am very sorry, to hear the news about the little lost daughter of your friends. These things tear at one's heart when you think of the suffering of the parents. A child is not something that can be replaced and the pain always remains. News like this certainly does make us appreciate that our own problems are relatively insignificant. So sorry.
Leafmite

[RedOrchid]

I would mention that I had a Beallera spike break a year ago. There were so many flowers on the stalk that the spike couldn't support it. I am quite careful now to place a supporting stake in my beallera before the spike get to tall and breaks.
Ruth

[camille1585]

I'm glad you're getting another spike on the plant. If an orchid really wants to bloom, it will. I once snapped a phal spike quite early on in its growth, and within a few weeks it started a new spike. Just make sure your orchids are off limits now!

I snapped a spike last week and it felt terrible, but at least I have another 2 dozen or so orchids either blooming or spiking. That's why I buy so many orchids; to have bloom insurance when I snap spikes!

What type of Beallara is it?