Spikes make me happy!

[Raqsharqi]

You give me hope. My phals were doing better before I put up a greenhouse. They've struggled ever since...as have I. It is a challenge to get heat at the right time, cool at the right time, the perfect light, and perfect humidity. It isn't as easy as growers make it look! I have a few orchids in spike, but not nearly what I had hoped for.

[ula]

Originally Posted by Daethen

I too love spikes! I currently have about 17 orchids in different stages of spike/bloom.

Great, it must be quite a sight! My entire collection is 17 orchids .

---------- Post added at 06:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:54 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Raqsharqi

You give me hope. My phals were doing better before I put up a greenhouse. They've struggled ever since...as have I. It is a challenge to get heat at the right time, cool at the right time, the perfect light, and perfect humidity. It isn't as easy as growers make it look! I have a few orchids in spike, but not nearly what I had hoped for.

Awww, that's sweet, thanks. I'm quite new at this, so I'm thrilled if my orchids just grow and ecstatic when I see a spike. I'm sure I'll up my expectations as time goes by.

---------- Post added at 06:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:00 PM ----------

Originally Posted by mimigirl

Ula do you grow that indoors? Someone told me try them because they are easy. Then i read they dont do well indoors.

I started out with Phals, like a lot of people (got all of them as gifts); one time my Filipino friends told me-'Wow, you're good at this, most people just throw these out once they're done blooming'-, so I thought that was time to get some more. I got hooked after my first orchid show...now pondering about windowsill "extensions" .

[lotis146]

This is definitely an interesting hobby. I wonder how many even planners that get orchids for their event just toss the plants when they're done. Or do you look at all the shows on TV wherein the people have beautiful, fully bloomed orchids in the background and wonder who picked those out for them and what happens when the flowers are done? That's fun that your friends chimed in like that.

I have noticed in my not quite a year as a hobbyist various mixed feelings. At times I've been driven and drawn by seeing blooms for the first time, but then I wonder okay, am I going to get bored with this plant now that there's no more surprise? (There was a thread earlier this year about Orchid burnout that was quite interesting.)

What I've discovered is that there's varying stages. First you're excited just to see it bloom. Next you're excited to grow a new growth and achieve a rebloom. Then you're anxious to improve on all of this, more than one growth, multiple spikes, bigger better blooms, etc (I've not been at it that long but I'm already feeling the itch). So maybe these don't all run in this order or even separately but it's what adds to the fun.

(I will add that I have several Vini Paphs that look so so similar I do feel I will wind up parting with at least one or two. Multiple plants with the same flowers, maybe that leads to burnout.

Thanks again for sharing your spikes.

[Daethen]

I have 105 orchids at this point. At least until the beginning of Feb. when I go to the local orchid show.

[gngrhill]

I, too, have some spikes, but I'm holding back on posting so I don't have to back track if any of them blast. So far looks like one of my twinkles and one den are going to blast.

[ula]

Originally Posted by lotis146

This is definitely an interesting hobby. I wonder how many even planners that get orchids for their event just toss the plants when they're done. Or do you look at all the shows on TV wherein the people have beautiful, fully bloomed orchids in the background and wonder who picked those out for them and what happens when the flowers are done? That's fun that your friends chimed in like that.

I have noticed in my not quite a year as a hobbyist various mixed feelings. At times I've been driven and drawn by seeing blooms for the first time, but then I wonder okay, am I going to get bored with this plant now that there's no more surprise? (There was a thread earlier this year about Orchid burnout that was quite interesting.)

What I've discovered is that there's varying stages. First you're excited just to see it bloom. Next you're excited to grow a new growth and achieve a rebloom. Then you're anxious to improve on all of this, more than one growth, multiple spikes, bigger better blooms, etc (I've not been at it that long but I'm already feeling the itch). So maybe these don't all run in this order or even separately but it's what adds to the fun.

(I will add that I have several Vini Paphs that look so so similar I do feel I will wind up parting with at least one or two. Multiple plants with the same flowers, maybe that leads to burnout.

Thanks again for sharing your spikes.

I find that growing plants is very rewarding (I do gardening too) and it also relaxes me greatly .
Thank you for sharing your advanced stages of orchidosis; I'll try to chronicle my hobby journey as well. How many years did it take you to get these "symptoms" ?

---------- Post added at 08:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:28 AM ----------

---------- Post added at 08:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:32 AM ----------

Originally Posted by gngrhill

I, too, have some spikes, but I'm holding back on posting so I don't have to back track if any of them blast. So far looks like one of my twinkles and one den are going to blast.

I'm very sorry, I can say: I know that "frustrating feeling"...

[Daethen]

Don't get me started on gardening.

[ula]

Ok, so here's a little update: looks like two of my victims have made it to the final stage so far, I'll post more photos in their respective genera section (once the flowers are fully open).
Cymbidium Eastern Wind and Wilsonara Kolibri.

[gngrhill]

They are both beautiful !

[ula]

Originally Posted by gngrhill

They are both beautiful !

Thanks!