Is this a flower spike on my Schoenorchis Fragrans?

[DesignerofBeauty]

Hello!

I was just wondering if anyone knows if this is in fact a flower spike on my S. Fragrans? It's very small and located on the left side of the orchid, between the second and third leaf (counting the newer shorter leaf).


I have had the orchid for a little over a year, without it blooming once. Recently, it's put out 5 new roots, and then this appeared! It doesn't look like a root, because it's situated between the leaves, kind of how a phal spike forms. It's slightly purplish in color, depending on the light shining on it.

Also, while I'm here, is it safe to remove the wire supporting the orchid (as shown)? The roots have done a nice job of attaching to the wood.

Thanks in advance!

[Salixx]

I'm afraid it looks like a root to me, at least from what I can see. When my S. fragrans spiked, the spike was quite thin and also a brighter purple, going more towards magenta.

How much light are you growing in? These guys usually get a red tinge on edge of their leaves when growing in optimal light. Yours doesn't have it (that I can see), I wonder if that is the reason for lack of blooming? It otherwise looks very healthy!

[DesignerofBeauty]

Ahh, okay . I live in RI, and it's been VERY rainy these past few months. On a bright sunny day, peak light reaches 3500-4000fc. But lately, we haven't been getting very sunny weather. Perhaps I should give it some artificial lighting.

[Salixx]

Originally Posted by DesignerofBeauty

Ahh, okay . I live in RI, and it's been VERY rainy these past few months. On a bright sunny day, peak light reaches 3500-4000fc. But lately, we haven't been getting very sunny weather. Perhaps I should give it some artificial lighting.

My plant had a rough start with me, so I am not totally sure it was all the lighting, but I only got four flowers this time.

With that said, I grow mine about 5-6'' under a regular daylight LED bulb (60w equivalent) with no natural light. I don't think it would take much more with your current light situation.

I hear you about the cloudy, rainy, cold weather , we're having the same problem farther up north.

[Roberta]

[QUOTE=DesignerofBeauty;844303

Also, while I'm here, is it safe to remove the wire supporting the orchid (as shown)? The roots have done a nice job of attaching to the wood.

Thanks in advance![/QUOTE]

Orchids teach patience... you'll find out soon enough whether it's a spike or root. Boosting light (and light duration) could be helpful. With regard to the wire, it hardly shows... I'd be inclined to leave it. Besides, the plant has somewhat grown around it, so removing it risks damage. I think this is of a case of "It isn't broken, no need to fix it..."

[Pattywack]

My Schoenorchis fragrans is in full bloom now with 2 spikes and 21 tiny, beautiful flowers. It is an absolutely amazing little orchid. I've had this plant for 4 years and it blooms every year, these last 2 years it has had double spikes. It was one of my first miniatures and it is so easy to grow. Everyone is amazed at this awesome orchid!

Your plant looks to have a root growing to me. That is not the way a spike looks on the fragrans, as Salixx stated, the spike is thin and magenta color. My plant's spike sticks almost straight out in the early stages and hangs down as it matures.

I grow my fragrans in a tiny vase, mounted and I keep a couple of stones in the bottom and a small amount of water for humidity. The mount is not touching the water. I water every 2 or 3 days and feed it weekly, weakly. This vase has a tiny "lid" that I keep on it overnight and remove mid morning as the vase steams up from morning sun. I grow it in a southeast kitchen window. Today the leaves are only tinged with red on their edges as we too have had a lot of cloudy rainy days. Earlier, a few weeks ago the plant was quite red all over. I would give your plant more light, they seem to handle high light in my opinion.

I would love to have a larger mount covered in fragrans! I hope you get blooms soon.

[DesignerofBeauty]

Originally Posted by Pattywack

My Schoenorchis fragrans is in full bloom now with 2 spikes and 21 tiny, beautiful flowers.

Very jealous! Do you think if I upped the light, it'd bloom later in the summer for me? Does yours bloom once a year, at the same season?

Also, Thanks for everyone's responses!

[Pattywack]

Originally Posted by DesignerofBeauty

Very jealous! Do you think if I upped the light, it'd bloom later in the summer for me? Does yours bloom once a year, at the same season?

Also, Thanks for everyone's responses!

I would definitely up the light, it certainly could bloom this summer. My plant only blooms once per year and this year it is almost a month behind from previous blooms. I have no idea why. Maybe there was less light in the early months of this year, slowing the development?

Also, when I water the fragrans I only spray the roots and tiny pad of moss it sits on, I never moisten the leaves. I'm afraid in its tiny vase it could cause rot. I remove the lid each morning but the vase is so small there is not much air "movement ". Your plant is the same size as mine.

My plant came from Andy's and after a year I removed the line holding it onto the mount.