Zygopetalum - Early Bloomer?!?

[Dorchid]

I received this zygo from Hauserman’s back in late March as pretty much a large seedling with three growths and really only one pbulb developed. It’s put on about 3 or 4 new growths and is still relatively small. I had to up-pot in July as it’s a root monster and is now in need of another repot. Anyway, I just noticed it’s throwing a spike from one of the new growths. I guess I wasn’t expecting any flowers for at least a year.

March 27


Today

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Dorchid

I guess I wasn’t expecting any flowers for at least a year.

This is the nice thing about some orchids and plants. They can catch us by surprise hehehe

[Dorchid]

No doubt! I’ll post updates as it progresses. Curious to see how it does for a first bloom on such a small plant.

[Dorchid]

Three buds forming on the first spike. Hopefully the second does the same. And a third spike coming in on a different growth.

[Steve83]

Well, the closer you get to perfect conditions, the better the pay-off. Nice work!

[Dollythehun]

That's where I got mine and it did the same thing. When it outgrew an 8" pot after dividing it twice, I got tired of the foliage and tossed it.

[Dorchid]

You tossed a rapidly growing and readily flowering plant because you got tired of it? 🤔

[Dollythehun]

No, as I've stated before, the foliage was nearly black. I decided to start over with a hybrid w different parents and spray regularly w neem oil (as another member suggested.) It was a dismal reminder every time I looked at it. But, it was a rooting, flowering machine, just ugly as sin.

[Dorchid]

Gotcha...I was just going on what was posted in this thread as I hadn't seen your post on the black leaves. That's a bummer, hope this one doesn't go that route!

[Dorchid]

Chugging along here. May have 9+ blooms depending on how long they last. The initial 2 spikes have 3 buds each and the third does as well. Just noticed a fourth spike on another growth.