I'm absolutely baffled by this! Is this normal?! - Orchid Board

nightingale · #1 07-31-2011, 09:48 AM

I got this orchid for free from my old job at a garden center. After all its flowers fell off, it started growing a new bud.

Thing is...it's kept growing...and growing...and growing...and growing! The bud on this orchid is SO HUGE that I'm not even sure if it'll actually bloom! And if it does, I presume it'll be a monster of a flower!

It's current environment is in my bathroom. I have a heating lamp and I take showers, so I'm certain that it is the steam and the heat that it really likes. I'm watering it once every 4-5 days to keep it moist. I'm thinking it might need to be re-potted, because its roots seem a little cramped.

The bud is currently about 3.5 - 4cm long and fat.

Is this abnormal? Also, what could you all suggest on getting it to bloom?

fishmommy · #2 07-31-2011, 10:11 AM

what sort of orchid is it?
That' looks like a flower bud

Daethen · #3 07-31-2011, 10:15 AM

Looks like a phalaenopsis. I would say the only thing that will get it to bloom is time. Some orchids will continue to bloom off of old spikes, some won't. I would say that it is very happy with you. As far as a repot goes, most orchids like to be a BIT cramped in their pots. It you do repot, use a container that is just a little bit bigger than the rootball. Pot to the root size, not the plant size.

mmursuli · #4 07-31-2011, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daethen

Looks like a phalaenopsis. I would say the only thing that will get it to bloom is time. Some orchids will continue to bloom off of old spikes, some won't. I would say that it is very happy with you. As far as a repot goes, most orchids like to be a BIT cramped in their pots. It you do repot, use a container that is just a little bit bigger than the rootball. Pot to the root size, not the plant size.

Totally agree with the above post. You have to have a lot of patience with orchids, but it pays off

greenbean · #5 07-31-2011, 06:34 PM

I agree. Looks like a Phalaenopsis. Some phals can have flowers up to 15 cm across. Just be patient and let your orchid do its thing. That bud will open when it's ready.

RosieC · #6 08-01-2011, 04:12 PM

I've had some buds grow really big on some of mine, usually those with large flowers of course. Some of them really do just seem to get bigger and bigger but it's open eventually.