Upside down phal bloom! - Orchid Board

greenpassion · #1 02-03-2018, 03:20 PM

Well this is a first for me. One of my phals is beginning to bloom, and the second one to open is upside down! I haven't moved or changed this phals orientation or position in any way at all, so hat can't be the cause. Not really thinking anything's a serious issue, but it's just so odd. Not sure how well my pics show it, but the little "fangs are on the top of the second one down...

Roberta · #2 02-03-2018, 07:40 PM

Sometimes they just do... could be a response to crowding, or just perversity on the part of the plant. Unless you were planning on entering it for an AOS award or a display award at a big international show, no worries. Next blooming will probably be fine.

estación seca · #3 02-04-2018, 12:46 AM

Mass-producers select for cloning only plants with well-presented flowers, so this is usually not an ongoing issue.

No-Pro-mwa · #4 02-04-2018, 10:28 AM

I have 2 catt hybrids doing this right now. I tried very hard to put them back just like they were. But still, I've had phals do it also. And yes it pisses me off.

greenpassion · #5 02-04-2018, 01:23 PM

Well I can't say that it pisses me off. Bud blast upsets me but this is just curious to me.

Roberta · #6 02-04-2018, 02:35 PM

Most orchids are non-resupinate (lip down) - when the buds first form, they're lip up (resupinate) and most of the time, rotate to the lip-down position (Some types, like the Prosthecheas, stay lip-up routinely) But for whatever reason, occasional flowers just don't make that rotation.

Actually, think I got that backwards... resupinate is down and non-resupinate is up. At any rate, the mechaninsm is correct.

greenpassion · #7 02-04-2018, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberta

Most orchids are non-resupinate (lip down) - when the buds first form, they're lip up (resupinate) and most of the time, rotate to the lip-down position (Some types, like the Prosthecheas, stay lip-up routinely) But for whatever reason, occasional flowers just don't make that rotation.

Hmmm. Interesting. And it seems to be catching. Today I found another mini phal that has begun blooming, and it's bloom is SIDEWAYS! But I may be responsible for this as I've had to jockey some of them around for adequate space. This particular one is one that is on the glass shelving under the LED lighting. And ALL of these phals are in bud and bloom now. (16 ) During the time that some were in early spike, I had to move them to another position or area. And speaking of moving phals around, I have a large one with this same group (no idea what the flower will look like as it's a rescue from a flower shop) that is now in double spike, but the spikes are shooting straight out from either side of the plant, and I'll HAVE to move it before long as there is no way it can do this on this shelf. My thinking is that if one has to be moved, it's bette to move it when in early spike than later.

estación seca · #8 02-04-2018, 03:47 PM

Moving plants in spike leads to this most of the time. If you want well-arranged flowers on an upright spike, it is best to begin the process of staking them once the spike begins elongating, and not move them with respect to the light after beginning the process.

You can also choose to have well-spaced flowers on a horizontal spike, the plant's normal growth pattern. But again you must not move them as the spike develops.