This one Violacea var Mentawi I would like to share. I didn't notice till I water the plant yesterday. It's a fresh bloom, est. 2 days ago. from an old spike. All the previous bloom are normal. This one have 4 petals.
I would like to ask one question?...If I pollinate this flower with it own pollen, what are the chances of having this type of flower down the line. I kind of like it, something different...cute.
"Experts" seem to feel that spontaneous mutations like this are caused by things like temperature fluctuations when the buds are forming, and are not a change in the essential DNA of the plant. Like if you drop a brick on your toe, and the nail turns black, and you get pregnant while it is black, you will *still* not bear a child with black nails.
If previous and subsequent blooms are normal, it was just a fluke; if you keep getting weird flowers, the plant may have a genetic defect.
Regards - Nancy
p.s. I had a peloric Phalaenopsis that bloomed with peloric flowers for about 7 years; suddenly, the past 3 bloomings have been 'standard' flowers. Bummer!