Do all new bulbs make a spike? - Orchid Board

irrka · #1 03-12-2008, 01:35 AM

I'm probably just paranoid, but i've been anxiously waiting for this bulb as it went from 1cm to like 5" already!! There's a bit of a space opposite the leaf (i guess at the junction of leaf and bulb??), so i keep peeking and not seeing anything coming out. Do spikes happen later or do some new bulbs just never make spikes? Do the old ones still flower? ugh.

I think it's getting enough light--it's in a southern window and when i remember i give it some fluorescent lighting during the day to help out (i should just put that lamp on a timer).

Tindomul · #2 03-12-2008, 10:45 AM

Not all new bulbs make spikes. Some make sheaths that don't produce spikes, and some make spikes that die before flowering. It can get very frustrating, very slowly! But, once your plant is ready, it will flower for you.
I don't know of any old bulbs producing spikes. THough Im not sure what you mean by old. I think I've had some bulbs that were many months old producing a spike.

Ocelaris · #3 03-12-2008, 05:13 PM

Good question! I have a LC that is making new shoots left and right, and growing very vigorously, but all I have to show is a bunch of empty sheaths

Getting anxious, because it's making new leaves at such a quick pace, but none seem to end up flowering

irrka · #4 03-12-2008, 11:08 PM

By "old bulbs" i meant the bulbs that came before the new bulb? so say you have 5 bulbs, the 5th is new and 1-4 are old? So you only ever have one bulb even having a chance of having a spike?

How do you make them make flowers, just more light?

Ocelaris · #5 03-13-2008, 09:52 AM

For Cattleyas and similar, only new bulbs will create flowers; and some of the new spikes which turn into psuedo bulbs and leaf will not have a flower.

The greater the rate of growth is really the only way to make them flower. Greater growth rate = more light (to a point), correct humidity, and adequete fertilizer. Basically, the faster it's growing, the better. Plants with more psuedo bulbs are older and if they are plump and happy, then they have a good reserve to put out flowers. A plant with 20 psuedo bulbs may be creating 2 or 3 new bulbs at the same time because it's growing in different directions. But a plant with only 5 probably is only growing in one direction, and making only 1 psuedo bulb.

Smaller plants can grow faster than larger plants, so the mini-catts are often popular because they can grow quite quickly and bloom more frequently than some of the giant cattleyas.

Mahon · #6 03-13-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irrka

By "old bulbs" i meant the bulbs that came before the new bulb? so say you have 5 bulbs, the 5th is new and 1-4 are old? So you only ever have one bulb even having a chance of having a spike?

There are a few genera, and some species, that come to mind that re-bloom off of older, previous growths from previous seasons. I think Dendrobium is the best example of this re-blooming off older growths, or perhaps even some species of Eria. Basically, it comes down to what kind of orchid you have and what species it is. Then blooming or re-blooming follows the plant's cultural requirements...

-Pat