Moving plants in bloom... - Orchid Board

lotis146 · #1 07-12-2014, 03:59 PM

So I figure this is as good a place as any to ask this, though it was the droopy paph thread that brought me back to this question I've wondered before.

For all of you wise old (defined not by age but years growing) orchid enthusiasts out there, how problematic is it, or not, generally to move Orchids once in bloom so you can see them (assuming their current location is one you don't see a lot)?

I've been especially wondering this since I put a large group of my chids outside (and plan to move them out back when that's more prepared) and as I noted elsewhere I have a Paph & Miltonia in spike (the Paph is double!). Plus my Pres. Fred has been out with the group since its second bloom opened, my Phrag. as well. I've heard others say that there's a risk of blast if I were to say bring the Miltonia in when it blooms. Is there a way to minimize this risk?

Thinking back to my Paph. 'Hawaiian Illusion' when it was in bloom I had it on a floor level shelf on a plant stand because the top level got direct light and I was sort of quarantining it as it was new. Then I moved it to top top shelf at an east window that gets a fair amount of light, in fact I've got mini catts & have had Phals there for a while. But when I moved Hawaiian Illusion there its bloom took a turn for the worse, then again I noticed one rusty spot on it before I even moved it.

Of course too I think about all of us who get or receive plants in bloom from somewhere and take them home, obviously that is a relocation. So from all your years, what have you noticed most often when moving plants around to enjoy the blooms?

Thanks!

JMNYC · #2 07-12-2014, 05:02 PM

I think, as long as the climate reality anywhere you move them to, is not dramatically different (cept for light) than where you moved them from....it's not a big deal.

Given I have single light sources, my problem, esp with catts, is, as now, on one, three bulbs maturing, all in sheath, but at different stages. The biggest one will produce/mature flowers before the others.

When this happens, and it happens a lot....I leave the plant where it was growing until all the buds mature, before I move it to my display table.

lotis146 · #3 07-12-2014, 05:18 PM

Thanks, that makes sense.

JMNYC · #4 07-12-2014, 06:17 PM

Not to hijack the thread, but, I thought I would make and put up visuals re one of my Catts, the one now in sheath on three bulbs.....the largest of which will mature and open buds sooner than the second one and much sooner than the third one. This can not be helped re the conditions in which I grow.

But maturing buds in sheath do need light to mature normally up to a certain point, and I will always honor that versus needing to display a half blooming plant on the table.

james mickelso · #5 07-12-2014, 10:17 PM

I've never had issues with bringing in any of my orchids when in bloom and setting them in the tokonama.

Orchid Whisperer · #6 07-12-2014, 10:20 PM

I move plants in bloom all the time: never had a problem.

lotis146 · #7 07-13-2014, 02:19 AM

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

tucker85 · #8 07-13-2014, 10:22 AM

Orchids seem to be very sensitive to change when they're in bud. Changing anything about the care of the orchid when buds are maturing can sometimes lead to the bud failing to bloom. On the other hand, once the flowers open, they're very hardy and moving the orchid to a new location won't hurt them at all. I always wait until the first flowers open and then move them to a better spot for viewing.

james mickelso · #9 07-13-2014, 12:06 PM

Yes as Tucker points out, changing the culture very much a plant while in bud can have consequences. I always lessen the amount of water I put on the budding orchid as I feel in nature the buds and flowers come during the dry season when their pollinators are flying. And changing the flowers orientation to the light source might stress them too. Flowers follow the light source. Partly because it needs to present the face of the flower to the light source in order to keep the nectar part fluorescing to guide the insect to the pollenia. In most flowers the nectar hole (sorry don't know the correct term) has a substance around it that fluoresces in ultra-violet that helps guide the pollinator to the pollenia. That is why they slowly turn their faces to the sunlight every day. Always try to orient the plant toward the light source when you move it.

lotis146 · #10 07-14-2014, 12:17 AM

Thank you again. Besides my Miltonia who's in spike, my Paph Odette's Vision seem to come into spike quite abruptly after i put it outside now for almost two weeks now there has been no change in the height of the spike or the size of the buds. I'm quite worried...almost sad...