Quote:
Originally Posted by Eahonn
Where do the spikes originate from? The top of the bulb or beside it? Beautiful specimen by the way.
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The spikes originate from the side of the PBulb which makes it very difficult to see when they start. These guys like heavy watering and then heavy feeding after a long winter rest but not until about March.
It gets starved starting in October or November depending on the fall weather. We did not water it except for a spritz once every 2 weeks. In March we had an early spring so we gave it a heavy watering and then a dose of Dyna-Gro bloom booster 3-12-6 on March 1 and then again on March 20.
Then we saw the first spikes probably 1st week of April and hit it with a dose of MSU.
Last year we had 12 spikes. This year 12 spikes again. Next year it will probably take off.
These guys do NOT like to be re-potted/mounted. We put it on this mount in 2009 after blooming with 10 spikes and it sulked. 2010 it put out ONE spike...JUST ONE.
We are going for a specimen plant culture award. The 93 CCE awarded in 2011 had over 4,000 flowers on 175 inflorescences. There was a CCM awarded with 17 inflorescences and over 400 flowers.
Obviously we have a ways to go, but this is a great way to learn about the species growth habit. Each year we learn something new about it and it is a joy to see the beautiful blooms.
FYI these don't like cold water on the leaves in the spring. It causes little black spots so we water directly on the roots with tepid water. It's spoiled.
Den lindleyi
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