Rfdra. Jerry Pacific Empire: New growths, no bulbs. - Orchid Board

greenpassion · #1 10-05-2013, 05:15 PM

Hi again all. Just posted a query about a Sharry Baby onc I have, and realized I also have a question about another (actually my first) onc. It is tagged 'Rfdra. Jerry Pacific Empire', and it came to me spiked. It flowered well, around 7 or 8 mths. ago, and has not produced pbs bulbs or spiked since. It has 3 nice new growths that began around 4/5 mths ago, but they aren't turning into puedo bulbs. Is that even how it happens?

Maybe the pbs. come aside from the leaf growths.

It looks monstrously healthy, is not in need of repotting, (I don't think) but it is in a pot that looks much smaller than the plant. There is some pleating on a few of it's leaves, but there are no pleats on any of the new growths that have occurred since I've had it. Any suggestions?

WhiteRabbit · #2 10-05-2013, 09:46 PM

Pbulbs develop within the bract foliage - some orchids take longer than others. It's possible yours does have pbulbs developing that just aren't visible yet.

greenpassion · #3 10-06-2013, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Pbulbs develop within the bract foliage - some orchids take longer than others. It's possible yours does have pbulbs developing that just aren't visible yet.

WhiteRabbit, do you think that the pbulbs don't have room to come up, due to the tight confines of the pot? If I put it into a slightly larger pot, would that help? I have an NOID onc in S/H that is just now sending one spike, and I can see that it's trying to put up a new bulb, but it's right up against the edge of the pot, really crowded, and sort of bent. Do Oncs generally want wider - shorter pots to put out new bulbs?

RosieC · #4 10-06-2013, 09:52 AM

I think it's just a case of patience. They should develop in the center of the new growths, even if the space is confined they will develop but might be a bit oddly shaped. I had one this year that developed trapped between other bulbs and it still developed but is sort of a distorted shape. Is the actual plant confined by the pot, or just the roots?

4/5 months for the new growths could mean they are still developing, the center of the growth will start fattening and eventually the leaves part so you can see the bulb in the middle of the leaves.

Some flower just before the bulbs start fattening, others after the bulb has formed.

greenpassion · #5 10-06-2013, 11:19 AM

Thanks Rosie for your response. Actually, thank you all. I am always amazed at the prompt replies I find on this board. I hope that one day I'll be 'in the know' enough to actually be helpful to someone out here in OB.

tucker85 · #6 10-06-2013, 11:41 AM

I agree. On some orchids the pseudobulbs often aren't noticeable until long after the leaves have grown. That's not true of all orchids. Some will have visible pseudobulbs even when small and some won't.

greenpassion · #7 10-06-2013, 02:35 PM

Thanks Tucker. I have another question-not sure if it's a problem or not, but one of my oncs that I have in S/H seems to be trying to form another bulb and other growths, but it's so squished up against the edge of the pot it doesn't seem to have room to grow. Should I have this plant in a wider container, rather than taller? Or will the new growth find some way to come up eventually? I feel bad for it. This particular onc. is finally sending up a spike. I have no idea what kind it is, or what the flowers will look like. I've had it a long time, and can't even remember where I got it.