Miltassia Shelob Growth Habit

[Dalton]

Hello,

I have a Miltassia Shelob that I recently divided. I took the oldest 5 bulbs and potted them up, not expecting much. However, they've put out a new growth that's more vigorous than the newer bulbs are putting out.

Typically, this plant grows in a straight line and climbs out of the pot. So in a square pot, I can pot the oldest bulbs low, and in the back corner. Then it'll grow toward the opposite corner, gaining height with each new PB.

When I divided the plant, the new growth on the old plant came from the rhizome, near the base of a PB. I've noticed these small growths before when I've peeled back and trimmed off, dead outer leaves to prevent disease. Even wen they get exposed to light, however, they don't grow. It just continues in it's forward and upward progression.

I recently learned a new word while reading another of Ray's posts. Meristematic. There's your word of the day. It basically seems like stem cells for the plant and can grow into whatever the plant needs it to be, as far as I understand it.

Obviously, these little guys have already decided that they want to be PB's when they grow up, because when I peeled the outer leave back, they looked like stubby little growths.

My question is, is there someway to encourage these guys to grow, without shearing the plant in half. I don't mind it's growth habit, but I'm not in love with it either. I'd prefer if it filled a pot and sent out lots of spikes.

Will these only grow if you divide the plant or do they grow into PB's under other circumstances? Just curious. Thanks.

[WhiteRabbit]

I don't really understand what's going on ... there is new growth, but it's not growing? How long has it been?

[estación seca]

I'm not clear, either. Are you asking whether there's a way to make the plant grow from back bulbs, so it makes a denser clump, rather than growing linearly and upwards?

[Dalton]

Yes, I've heard the growth called eyelets before. Basically, it's a small nub at the bottom of the psuedobulbs. When I divided the plant, this started growing into a new psuedobulb. They seem to be there as long as the psuedobulb is and only start growing if the plant is divided beyond that point. It's only the last bulb in line. None of the bulbs further back have had this nub to start growing.

Yes estacion, I would like to know if there is a way to encourage these growths so that it denser instead of stringing out. I know they're different plants, but I have a Gongora that seems to be putting out three new growth on opposite sides of the plant. I believe my Colmonara wildcat is doing the same.

I didn't know if there was a way to encourage the plant to grow multi-directionally or if this was just it's growth pattern. I've searched for this plant before and I've seen ones that seemed to be nicely contained in and filling their pots. Mine continues to out grow it's pot.

[estación seca]

I haven't grown that particular plant. There is normally a potential growing point (eye) on the rhizome of sympodial orchids, on the inside of each sheath or leaf, and on the stem inside the base of each leaf of monopodial orchids. Most never grow.

Some orchids make just one new growth at a time, from the previous growth. Others make more new growths at the same time. Breeders aim for multi-growth. Individual plants of a species or cross may vary in this tendency. Gongora and relatives are known for making multiple growths.

Good growing conditions, water and fertilizer affect plant vigor, and tendency to break multiple leads. With excellent care, bigger plants often do so. Oncidium relatives often have 2-3 or more older growths, and have bloomed, before they begin producing multiple leads.

But some plants are reluctant to do this no matter what. I don't know whether this hybrid is known for that.

If you think the plant in your care is very healthy, but it isn't breaking multiple leads, you can leave the plant in the pot and cut the rhizome. The back bulbs will probably make a new growth. Leave at least 3 back bulbs per section. You may not have a plant manipulated this way judged for an award.

[Dalton]

Thanks estacion seca. That's probably what I've got going on. And as I suspected, it's probably just up to the individual plant and mine is probably not one to have multiple growths at once without the manipulation you described.