Wow that spike is long! Glad I know what to expect! I can't wait for mine to bloom someday. I have one potted in a chc mix and I spray it really well every other day. I think they don't like to dry out like some Cattleya's do, and I think I have a tendency to want to treat it like the others. My other one is in s/h and is a division that Ted gave to me and it is happy as a bug! I love s/h!