Creative ideas for shaping the inflorescence on oncidiums? Straight up is boring!

[astrid]

Hello everyone!

As I'm getting the hang of this orchid business, I am starting to get my plants to rebloom. As such, I have been thinking about new ways to stake up the flower spike.

On my current oncidium, I am simply training the flower spike to wrap around the bamboo stick so that I can eventually take the twistie-ties off the plant and it will stay up on its own. Don't worry, I check once or twice a day to be sure the ties are not too tight on the plant!

I've seen some nice displays for flowers, but I wondered if you guys had any unusual or unique ideas!

I've seen some displays with long, curved wires causing a pretty arched flower display. I imagined maybe if I had two flower spikes to do that and arrange them into the shape of a heart.

I also wonder about oncidiums with LOOOONG flower spikes- for example the Sherry Baby. Have any of you placed a sherry baby up on a shelf and let her flowers hang down in a cascade?

What about other oncidiums? Do they look nice hanging down? Stores almost always stake them straight up, and I want something new and fun! Share your ideas and photos with me and we can compare!!

[WhiteRabbit]

Once the blooms start to open, they will likely bow the spike, tho it depends how many blooms / how large they are.

I have left Sharry Baby spikes unstaked, but in the 5" pot the plant was in at the time, it was difficult to keep the plant upright - it also makes watering difficult. What I like to do for the long Sharry Baby spikes, it's to use short stakes ( 12-18"), and then when flowers start to open on the 4-4.5' spikes, they make a lovely cascade - no long curved wires required, and some spikes still hang lower than the table top

[Leafmite]

For hearts, try Jasminum nitidum. It blooms very frequently and is just perfect for training. Not an orchid but a pretty plant in and out of bloom.
I will be looking forward to the pictures of your spikes. I think it is rather fun to experiment with plants. The great thing is, if you don't like how it turns out, there is always the next blooming.

[801229001]

i personally like to not stake them at all.
i think spikes looks just as nice without any shaping!