Heaven Scent Redolence possible flower spike...

[lambo1972]

Hello all and hope you are well! Anybody got any pics or advice on what a Heaven Scent Redolence flower spike looks like very early on before it emerges from inside the leaves? If I had to guess, the grown I'm seeing is a root. The color is the same as roots growing down, but this growing straight up through the leaves on the newest PB. Since this is my first Heaven Scent, I wouldn't know. But the growth is light green and white at the tip, with that round instead of pointed tip I see on other species. Clearly, I'd be pleased if this is how Redolence spikes "start" out. Thanks, JML

[Roberta]

Photo?

[lambo1972]

Best I can do I suppose. The tan/brown stick I used to push the leaf back a little. Thanks for the advice!

[Roberta]

Looks like a root. Sometimes they do "grow the wrong way". Remember, these are epiphytes - evolved to grow on trees and their branches. So all roots don't necessarily go down, they can go in any direction. When you water you can let some hit the emerging aerial root. Also... when was this plant last potted? If the medium is bad, the plant may send roots in other directions gasping for air.

[KatieM]

It looks like a root to me. Mine just finished blooming so I don't have a good pic but in my experience the spike has come from between the leaf right by the pbulb. When I get home I can try to take a pic. It's dried but I've been busy with repotting so haven't cut it off yet. The spikes are fairly skinny. I hope this helps!

[ArronOB]

Agreed with Roberta. Definitely a root. I have this clone and the flower spikes are the same as the rest of it’s kind - lime green pointy things, and opaque rather then with the translucent white coat (velamin) that you see there.

[KatieM]

Here it's kind of hard to see on my heaven scent but here's a pic of my gold dust also. See how the spike is coming out next to the pbulb tucked in that leaf? That's normally how the heaven scent spikes as well. Hope this helps!

[lambo1972]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Looks like a root. Sometimes they do "grow the wrong way". Remember, these are epiphytes - evolved to grow on trees and their branches. So all roots don't necessarily go down, they can go in any direction. When you water you can let some hit the emerging aerial root. Also... when was this plant last potted? If the medium is bad, the plant may send roots in other directions gasping for air.

Thank you Roberta! I got this plant in mid-December. While the old PBs are pretty shriveled, the plant seems to be doing well. Because I traumatized the Aliceara I bought in October, I resisted repotting the Heaven Scent. The medium it’s in, is a medium bark and just bark. No perlite, charcoal or any other mixture. The plant has tons of roots in the bottom of the pot but they are not bursting out. I was told NOT to repot right away and wait till Spring. I took another pic of the same PB, sprouting even more roots. I’m good with it as it seems to doing well. When is the best time to repot oncidiums and their intergenerics? I have the Aliceara, this Heaven Scent, Twinkle Pink Profusion, and a Zygo Jumpin Jack. I know these aren’t all quite in the same realm…

[lambo1972]

Here is the pics of other roots on the same PB…

[Roberta]

Looks very healthy. If it were my plant, I would use smaller bark since these want to stay a bit damp. But those are great new roots. And the time to repot is when you see new roots. Usually new roots and new growth go together. (So not by the calendar, let the plant tell you) I don't think there is any rush to repot - wait until the flowers are done - but do make sure to keep it watered - should never dry out.