First and second blooms

[isurus79]

First blooms are very often pretty wonky looking! It's like the plant needs some practice to get it right. Even the second bloom can still be a bit "off" compared to the third bloom.

---------- Post added at 02:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:30 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Jeff214

First bloom was cultured under grow lights. The second was grown outdoors in bright shade.

Considering the high light preferences of most bifoliates, I suspect you'll get a different result on the third bloom if you grow it under bright conditions! I bet the bloom under high light will be your favorite.

[SouthPark]

The only reasons - aside from environment conditions - for a first time bloomer to have a flower shape or form that isn't quite expected (normally) --- is if the orchid is still a bit small and not able to get whatever is required into the developing buds/flower (eg. water, elements, nutrients etc). I have a feeling that if the orchid is big enough - with enough bulbs ---- or just big enough to supply enough of everything to the developing buds/flower (and assuming environment is just fine) --- then flowers can come out normally - as expected - even for first time flowers.

I guess it is --- since after-all, there are a heap of first time bloomers/flowers out there that are normal looking. Good thread Jeff! Nice one.

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Thanks for posting those pics, and those nice details Kim. For those pics ----- the two plants in the one photo (the catts) are divisions, right? ----- same DNA, but subjected to different environmental conditions, right?

Correct.

[Jeff214]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

Jeff: No need to feel embarrassed. I have been around orchids since I was born (my dad had an orchid nursery, and I worked for him part time for 9 years, after school and beyond), and I am still learning.

Cattleya:
The plant on the left developed inflorescence in the greenhouse. The plant on the right developed inflorescence in an apartment on Manhattan, with only morning sunlight.

Ah, just didn't want to bore people if it's a commonplace occurrence. Anyway, the difference in that Cattleya is stark!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

Ah, just didn't want to bore people if it's a commonplace occurrence. Anyway, the difference in that Cattleya is stark!

It's common, but it is neat to see the comparative photos. And gives some insight as to how conditions can change the characteristics of a blooming even past those first two years. For instance color can be very temperature-dependent on some orchids... when my Cleisocentron gokusingii blooms in the winter, it can be rather intense blue to blue-green (a really unusual color in orchids, not that common in the plant world generally). But when it blooms in summer, the color is more of a "meh" pale blue-gray.

[Jeff214]

Now fully opened, a faint spicy fragrance.

[Roberta]

That is gorgeous! The adolescent grew up to be a floriferous beauty!

[SouthPark]

Excellent capture of such beautiful flowers.

[Jeff214]

So... the third set of flowers were grown indoors under lights again (similar to the first bloom). Looks like a different plant each time haha...


First bloom (indoor lights):




Second bloom (outdoor "lights"):




Third bloom (indoor lights):

[My Green Pets]

Lucky number three!