ludisia discolor flower question

[MrsSky]

Hello,
I recently purchased some jewel orchids. One of the smaller ones is in flower. Should I cut the bud off to allow the plant to put its energy into new leads or should I just enjoy it? It is very cute but it is so small, I don't want to zap all of its energy.
Thanks, Laura

[orchidsarefun]

I would leave it - it wouldn't develop a bud/stem if it wasn't capable of surviving the experience

[Bud]

Where did you get your information?
The plant gathers enough energy during growth period to produce buds per blooming cycle. The mere fact that it has a bud means that it already gave its allotted energy to the flowers. Its not like a battery that gets charged then loses energy.

[MrsSky]

I guess I wasn't clear...its a cutting off of a very large and gorgeous plant. I think that when it gets too big, the original plant gets a haircut and the little bits get potted up. It does have roots and seems happy where it is. So, I'm leaving the buds.

[Tindomul]

Nice collection by the way, I think it will be fine. Enjoy it.

[RosieC]

I would leave it. These grow easily, I have a piece that broke off one and is now in a glass of water to root it... and it's budding in the glass of water! Yours looks healthy even if it's small so don't worry about it

[Bud]

This is a stem that broke off from the specimen on the thread I posted a while ago; I put it on a glass of water to start root and it has produced a spike that maybe will be giving me at least 8 flowers.

[samarak]

I agree with the other posters - that form of Ludisia is pretty tough and should have no problem supporting the flower(s). I'd enjoy it.

When I grew this in a windowsill, it flowered at Christmas every year. Now that I give it "better" conditions in a greenhouse, it rarely flowers for me. If I had a windowsill without a cat in it, I'd move it back.

Steve