Bulbo medusæ...is it a spike?

[My Green Pets]

Just got this fine lady in May, it hasn't bloomed yet, but this new pseudobulb has something that looks promising... Could it be?

[Brooke]

It certainly looks like a spike and both of mine are spiking as I type.

Congrats!

Brooke

[My Green Pets]

Woo-hoo! I can't wait!!

[My Green Pets]

Looks to be a spike for sure...



...and guess what? Found another one!

[LovePhals]

Awesome! May I ask where you got this one.. I have been thinking about it they are so pretty!

[Brooke]

'Tiz spike season!

Brooke

[My Green Pets]

Originally Posted by LovePhals

Awesome! May I ask where you got this one.. I have been thinking about it they are so pretty!

I bought this one on eBay from insituorchids. I just checked his listings and I don't see one for sale, but you might contact him just in case. He does carry a lot of interesting Bulbophyllums.

[HighSeas]

Oh my! I'm going to check mine first thing in the morning! How long does it take for a spike...from the beginning until bloom?

[My Green Pets]

Found spike number 3 the other day hiding beneath dry tissue...was very lucky I didn't snap it off!

[My Green Pets]

Well here we are, two and a half months later...

I thought I'd note my observations on this plant's blooming habit. The spikes grew very slowly over the course of the past two months, reaching a length of about 6 cm and swelling into a teardrop shape (can be seen in photos below).

Then, last week, I noticed the buds had suddenly split open at the ends. From that point they have grown with surprising speed, doubling in length to about 12 cm in just a few days. The long strands are starting to unfurl and this "pom pom orchid" is finally, finally coming into bloom!