Zygo. mackayi question

[tuvoc]

I've had this plant for three or four years, and it has always seemed healthy and happy, but never bloomed. This spring I decided to put it in sphag. just to see what would happen. Almost over night it started a new growth. About a month later, I saw another growth starting on the newest one. I thought, 'flower spike'. Not too much later I found another one on the same growth. OK I thought. As of last week, they all look like new growths. No flower spike. This morning I found another new growth sprouting from the newest one. There are now three new growths, with something starting on the last one. I am now totally confused. Is this plant as confused as I am, or is it just making up for lost time? Any thoughts?

Kim

[Rosim_in_BR]

Kim, I don't grow mackayi, so I don't have any direct experience with it. But, speaking on a general basis, this is not normal. I have seen this kind of excessive sprouting in cattleyas and every time it happens the plant has some sort of disease and is trying to survive. I've been struggling with a Cattleya warscewiczii that was a healthy mature plant four years ago. It started sprouting as madly as a weed and each new growth smaller than the preceding. I spoke to some experienced friends that told me that the plant had been infected by some pathogenic fungus of the genus Fusarium (extremely hard to eliminate). The plant went as small as one inch and it took me four!! years before I kill that plague. Now, after all those years it is back to the normal growing pattern. Now, the interesting is that the pseudo bulbs and leaves didn't show any signs of any infestation. This crazy fungus attacks the rhizome and slowly kills the plant there. The plant reacts by putting out new growths on a disoriented way. The rhizome gets clear brown, more chestnut I'd say, very dry and hard.
I'm not saying that your Zygo has such a terrible disease, but a careful look wouldn’t do any bad.

[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by tuvoc

I've had this plant for three or four years, and it has always seemed healthy and happy, but never bloomed. This spring I decided to put it in sphag. just to see what would happen. Almost over night it started a new growth. About a month later, I saw another growth starting on the newest one. I thought, 'flower spike'. Not too much later I found another one on the same growth. OK I thought. As of last week, they all look like new growths. No flower spike. This morning I found another new growth sprouting from the newest one. There are now three new growths, with something starting on the last one. I am now totally confused. Is this plant as confused as I am, or is it just making up for lost time? Any thoughts?

Kim

Kim-- If possible can you post a pic of the above?
Remember that zygos make up a spike and new vegetative growth at the same time; the spike usually will form between the two lowest leaves, and often will not be of notice until the new growth is about 3" or taller, at which time the spike will begin to rapidly lengthen.
Curious as to what you had the plant growing in pre-sphagnum?
Just a thought or two...
Adam

[tuvoc]

Thanks for the input guys. Mauro, I hope you are wrong this time. Adam, it was originaly potted in fine bark. The tallest new growth is 12 inches from base to tip of the leaf. All three look like good, healthy new growths. Hope these pics help. Thanks again.

Kim

[Lorraine]

Hi Kim,
I'm not a master grower but I do have a Zygo. Bought it in bloom in Feb. this year. It has lived in my bathroom with lots of humidity and lots of bright light about 79 degrees. I kept it moist when it was planted in spag and as soon as it was dry rewatered it. It rewarded me with a new growth that looks like yours and 2 spikes in July ( gave me 11 blooms) I repotted it last month into dyna rock and coconut coir with some fine charcoal in a clear pot (have to water it about every 3rd day now)and I once again have new growth with a spike and looks to be 5 blooms to come. I have asked about the blooming of this plant , seems to bloom 2x a year. The spike did come from about a 3" new growth. Someone who kept hers outside kept loosing them to disease so mine will live indoors and I won't care how big it gets.

I hope you get some spikes soon, your plant looks to be in good condition. Just let the moss dry then thoroughly water it add some dynamite fertilizer to the pot and give it a boost. I give mine a liquid fertilizer watering once in a while, 1/2 strength.
Lorraine

[tuvoc]

Thanks, Lorraine. I'll just let it do what it wants, and see what happens. I'll post any progress or---.

Kim

[Grandma M]

There is a very good culture sheet for zygos on the casa de los orquideas site. If you can't find it I can send a copy to you. I have researched the culture of zygos and have quite a bit saved on my computer. I especially like their info.

I mixed my own medium for the few I have and it works well for me. I have found that they are thirsty little rascals, and like a lot of light.

[joejack]

My mom suggested that I purchase a plant as a way to broaden my current ideas of care giving and scheduling. Similar to having a dog/cat/other pet of choice but less work right?

Wrong. As I am quickly finding out, with the orchid that I have chosen, there is about as much work going into the Orchid, or more even, then many house pets. I am very excited to say the least!

That out of the way, as it is my first post, I have a question about lighting for this species of orchid. I took the suggestion from Grandma M and took at look at Casa de los orquideas before posting. Their information pertains to mainly outdoor care and I will be keeping mine indoors do too varying climate conditions in Kansas. Although one could convert outdoor to indoor conditions I have not yet grasped that method and so have chosen to post instead.

What I am concerned about are black splotches that have appeared on the plant. I have read that this is, in a sense, a sunburn and that the plant is receiving too much light. (correct me if I am wrong please )

The plant currently sits on my windowsill facing the rising sun and receives light till mid day when the sun begins to creep over my house. (about 7ish till noon)

I noticed a post that stated theirs was in the bathroom. Are you providing an alternate light source besides the (assumption) normally small window in a bathroom or is that adequate enough?

I apologize for all the questions, as they are probably answered in other sections, but this is my first exploration of the site and happened upon this topic.

I will provide pictures tomorrow afternoon as I am now off to bed.

Thank You,

Concerned Noobie

General Description of plant: Two prominent sudo-bulbs with leaf growth of 12" or larger. Two newly grown with leaf growth of about 5-6" (one has a spike which has formed seemingly right out of thin air, was a very rapid growth spurt.) And finally a new growth that I just noticed yesterday that is about 1" long.

Care: Watering about once a week depending on if it needs it. Just kind of playing it by feel. Norman's fertilizer is used every two weeks (but I am sure it is too much) messure is about 1/4 teaspoon with about 15oz of water after initial watering. I have done no flushing as that technique is new to me and will begin next water session.

Color: medium/light green (with of course the dark splotches ).

[joejack]

Sorry I hi-jacked My apologies to the OP.

Just was reading all this new information and got all excited. I believe I answered the question by doing a bit more reading this afternoon and am going to move the plant to a less light intensive area.

[harleymc]

Not sure if you may be able to find some hints here Zygopetalum mackayi Culture