Onc. Aka baby 'Raspberry Chocolate' is it a spike?

[Jeff214]

Nice - It's going to smell so good in that room!

[Diane56Victor]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

Nice - It's going to smell so good in that room!

Thanks Jeff, I hope so. I did read a thread about fragrant Oncidiums and the fragrance on Aka Baby was described 'dark chocolate and mothballs'.
Im hoping that description was just their take on the fragrance and to me the smell is pleasant!

[Jeff214]

To me it smells like chocolate flavored cereal. It's not quite chocolate, but with a little vanilla mixed in. In passing, it smells like a child's breakfast!

I think many flowers do smell a little off at the beginning and end of its life. Even through the day I notice some differences. At its height, I think it's a wonderful fragrance. It also might depend on a particular clone/strain. Fragrance is up to the nose of the beholder - hope you find it pleasant.

[Diane56Victor]

Update.......
September 2020 the plant had 5 spikes and was growing well.
New Years Eve the first bloom on the first spike popped. It should last quite some time in bloom as the spikes are in various stages of growth.
Flower count is between 30 and 35 blooms on the spikes where the buds have coloured up enough to count. Only about half of the blooms on the first spike have opened so far.
Fragrance is faint at the moment so hopefully it will develop more. Smells faintly like fruity talcum powder...if such a thing exists!

[ArronOB]

I have an O. Heaven scent ‘redolence’ flowering at the moment (almost identical) and it has no scent - which is odd because it has flowered before and I seem to remember a very strong scent - pus it’s name kind of indicates it should be something special odour-wise.

I don’t know what governs the production of scent but I expect as its a limited resource the plant focuses on producing the scent only when it’s pollinator is actively flying - so produces scent only when the climatic conditions suit the pollinator. That could be a very narrow band and as we keep them in a foreign environment then we might not hit those conditions as often as we think.

Anyway, a good purchase. I think there are many bargains with the local orchid vendors as they have been unable to offload stock at shows in 2020. I made some purchases last year and I think I often got the next size up from the one I actually paid for - they need to move stock to create space maybe.

[Diane56Victor]

Originally Posted by ArronOB

I don’t know what governs the production of scent but I expect as its a limited resource the plant focuses on producing the scent only when it’s pollinator is actively flying - so produces scent only when the climatic conditions suit the pollinator. That could be a very narrow band and as we keep them in a foreign environment then we might not hit those conditions as often as we think.

I agree, Ive noticed the fragrance isn't there early in the morning or later in the afternoon, so I guess the pollinator likes the warmer part of the day.