Vuyl. Melissa Brianne 'Shady Lady' - much improved from last year

[WhiteRabbit]

Blooms last year were very poor - shape was bad, markings almost non-existent ... I was about ready to trash the plant, worried it was diseased, but some OB members encouraged me not to - telling me that cultural issues may have been responsible for the "ugly" blooms. I'm glad they did

This year, two spikes - first spike to open blooms looked much better than last year's, tho still not nearly as nice as blooms looked when I first got the plant in the fall of '08 (but I was quite happy to see they had improved).
The second spike shows further improvement! Not nearly as many blooms, and presentation isn't great (probably because I didn't stake the spike, and just kept turning the plant) Shape is much better - Color and markings are improved. (the color is better than shows in photo, tho could still improve a bit). This has been growing outside exclusively, except for the very coldest nights when it's been in the garage - plant definitely looks 'rough', and perhaps can get better blooms if grown inside ? idk - was keeping it isolated from other plants, and had no where inside to do that -
But, I'm quite happy to see the improvement! Thanks to everyone who gave me advice and opinions on the ugly blooms last year!

first photo is from last year, second photo is the first spike to bloom this year, and the last photo is the most recent

thanks for looking

[vandagirl]

They sure look better than last year. I think if you will be patient it will get much nicer. The color sure is lovely.

[glengary54]

That's some change in the appearance of the flower, so what did you change culture wise?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by vandagirl

They sure look better than last year. I think if you will be patient it will get much nicer. The color sure is lovely.

thanks
yes, I am very happy with how much better they look - I was actually afraid to see the blooms; afraid they would still be ugly, and was tempted to even cut off the spikes before the blooms opened, tho of course then I would never know if they improved or not

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by glengary54

That's some change in the appearance of the flower, so what did you change culture wise?

well ... good question lol
since this grew outside both winters, I guess the cold wasn't the factor - unless, because these spikes grew sooooo slowly, maybe it was a bit warmer by the time the buds began to develop ? idk ... or my attempts at protecting the plant from cold the previous winter, perhaps, the temp variation to warm, was too big ... ?
it's also been growing in a different spot ...?

or - I had been using superthrive, very small amount, but, every watering for much of the spring and summer preceding the ugly blooms, and have really laid off the stuff now... ?

so, hard to say for sure

[glengary54]

WhiteRabbit - The bet the problem was the superthrive. I have found if I use it to often it will deform flowers, manipulate color changes and on Vandas, make the roots grow into a curly tangled mess.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by glengary54

WhiteRabbit - The bet the problem was the superthrive. I have found if I use it to often it will deform flowers, manipulate color changes and on Vandas, make the roots grow into a curly tangled mess.

thanks for your input - I have been leaning towards believing superthrive to be the problem, mostly because that is the most glaring change - besides the superthrive usage, the culture has been pretty much the same

[vandagirl]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

thanks
yes, I am very happy with how much better they look - I was actually afraid to see the blooms; afraid they would still be ugly, and was tempted to even cut off the spikes before the blooms opened, tho of course then I would never know if they improved or not

I guess you're glad that you did not cut off the spikes. Otherwise you would not have seen the result, and missed the pretty flowers.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by vandagirl

I guess you're glad that you did not cut off the spikes. Otherwise you would not have seen the result, and missed the pretty flowers.

yes, I'm very glad I didn't cut them
thanks

[tucker85]

That's beautiful. Good growing.