Hello from Quebec and question about an Aliceara.

[sithwitch]

Hello all!

I am glad to find a group of people as interested in orchids as I am, as my friends and family are not so keen on listening to me chatting about how glad I am that my plants are all healthy.

I got the bug when I bought a phal at Costco 2 years ago. Kept it alive even though it was planted in soil and had it rebloom the next year (have repotted it since, in a Shultz mix, the only mix I had availble then). Since then, I bought 2 new phals, a paph primulium x delenatii, a catt Green Emerald 'Orchid Queen', an Aliceara Sunday Best 'Ontario' and a asco Princess Mikasa Blue.

I live in an over-heated, semi-basement and grow them in my living room so I have very limited space in which to indulge in my Orchidmania. I'd like to hear from people dealing with same space/temp/light issues, because I'd really like to expend my collection to include a psychopsis, a phrag or 2 and a Sharry Baby or a Twinkle (I killed one of each unfortunately, the Sharry to overwatering and the Twinkle to underwatering).

My Aliceara is also forming a bloom spike on an old bulb that already bloomed back in September (after which I repotted it in a nice onc. mix from RePotme), so I am very puzzled, as I did not believe it was possible on that kind of orchid. Anyone has an idea? I did make a point of giving it more light and placing it in a cooler spot 2 months ago as it did not seem to grow at all. No leaf loss or anything, but it's new pseudobulb was not growing at all. Now, the pb is fattening and it's sprouting new roots all over the place. I am glad it is healthy and spiking, the flowers have the most delightful raspberry jam fragrance! I just wish I new at which stage of it's growth cycle it's in!

Glad to meet you all, and I hope I'll get to learn a lot from everyone!

[cabnc]

I bought 4 discounted Alcra. Sunday Best 'Pink Skirt' in 9-17-2009 because the flowers had already dropped. Turned out I had 7 plants!

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ink-skirt.html

I too would not have thought you would get another blooming off the 'old' pb. Is it possible you are growing another new pseudobulb ?? The pb starts out as a pointed spear of tight leaves that will grow spring into summer before forming a 'bulb'.

Charlie

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

[sithwitch]

I thought it was a new pseudobulb at first, but now I can clearly see 3 future flower buds poking from behind one of the, I apologize for my lack of proper vocabulary, bulb's 'side leaves'. The cut stem of the old spike is on the other side of the bulb. That spike was cut in late September. I just noticed that new growth last week.

The new bulb was already there when I bought the plant in August, but just started fattening up.
When I repotted it, it seemed to be one single plant, but I could have been wrong, it was completely pot-bound in a 4 inch pot and the root mass was enormous, all roots seemed healthy and it's now in a 6 inch pot. (Took a picture of the growth, but I don't see where I could post it in this reply, newbie that I am ^^). Am very glad that it's healthy at all in a way, this room is the hottest of the whole apartment and if I wasn't playing very carefully with the windows, it could be as hot as 32 Celsius in here. But I have to be careful at night that it doesn't get so cold that it could upset my Princess Mikasa which is relatively close by.