Is this a Spike a Keiki or Other, on my hardcane Den?

[RosieC]

Hey great news Heather. My Phals are not showing signs of spiking yet, but I'm still expecting I will get some before spring.

[RosieC]

Well I now have flowers... and have officially re-bloomed my first Dendromium (also the first non-Phal orchid I have re-bloomed). It has lots more buds to go.



The colour looks very different from last time. The petals are almost completely pink when they were mostly white last year. The lip is also pink right to the tip unlike last year. Last year there was more pink in the sepals, this year they are mostly white.

It almost seems like it's a different plant... but until recently I only had the one Den and there is 0% chance I've mixed them up.

Here is a pic from last year for comparison.

[Blueszz]

Congrats! This is quit a difference in flower color! Don't know what I like better :-) Enjoy your flowers!
Nicole

[Nic100]

Rosie, well done! It's beautiful! You must be SO proud!

[quiltergal]

Nice job Rosie! You may find that the tips of the petals and lip fade as the flower ages. It is curious though.

[Norton]

Nice! I wonder why the difference in color? Perhaps related to temperature. I have a Den Phal spiking but it has a while to go before I see blooms.

[RosieC]

Thanks everyone.

Originally Posted by quiltergal

You may find that the tips of the petals and lip fade as the flower ages. It is curious though.

The flowers have improved the longer they have been open but the pattening of the pink does not seem to be changing.

When the first one opened it looked very green on the sepals and generally small and poor shape. But the first flowers to open have improved with age and are larger, whiter on the speals, and a much better shape by the time I took this pic (an even better today).

I like it just as much this year, but it seems strange that it has changed so much. My hubby asked if it was possible there were two plants in the pot. But this new cane has grown direct out of the base of the one that flowered last year and the connection is clear just at the top of the medium.

[RosieC]

Actually I've just taken another look and there are now four flowers open.

The fourth is still quite small and green, but is showing signs of more white on the petals and more pink on the sepals than the earlier flowers. Still closer to the first of this years flowers than to last years, but definately different to the first ones.

[Hedge]

It could be what you,ve been feeding them - the way hydrangeas are affected? Or it could be that it is an unstable hybrid - I have a Phal whose flowers vary enormously in pigmentation depth and distribution even on the same stem..... Just a couple of thoughts

[RosieC]

Thanks Heather,

I also wonder if it could be light levels. It had just enough to trigger flowering when outside for a couple of days in late summer, then it's been in the brightest window but I don't think has had as much as it would like.

Just another possibility, I would have to experiment with lots of factors to ever know.