Wilsonara Eye Candy 'Pinky' spike in weird location.

[Orchid Whisperer]

My Wilsonara Eye Candy 'Pinky' is a weirdo.

I'm used to seeing spikes emerge from leaves at the base of the pseudobulb. This (recently acquired) plant has done that before. This time, it seems to think it is a Cattleya, the spike is emerging between the leaves at the top of the pseudobulb.

Has anyone else seen this happen before?

[Img]130117[/img]

[fishmom]

Pretty bloom though! All my onc. alliance plants bloom from the side leaves that protect the pseudobulbs, like you say. Those bulbs are small, though, maybe that's what confused the plant!

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by fishmom

Pretty bloom though! All my onc. alliance plants bloom from the side leaves that protect the pseudobulbs, like you say. Those bulbs are small, though, maybe that's what confused the plant!

That could be. This is a rescue, recovering after some bad spider mite damage (previous owner). The plant is smallish, I was actually surprised it started blooming.

Glad you like the blooms - I was surprised at how large the blooms are.

Still curious if anyone else has had an Oncidium type with a top & center spike?

[katrina]

I don't grow any like this anymore but back when I did, I had a similar experience. The difference though, mine also sprouted a new growth from the top of an older pbulb. New growth developed and then it made a spike on that very immature new growth. Never just a spike though.

[Dollythehun]

I haven't but it sure is pretty!

[No-Pro-mwa]

Nope, I've never had it happen.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by katrina

I don't grow any like this anymore but back when I did, I had a similar experience. The difference though, mine also sprouted a new growth from the top of an older pbulb. New growth developed and then it made a spike on that very immature new growth. Never just a spike though.

I remember a post a while back (not sure it was Orchidboard) where someone was getting keiki-like growths atop Oncidium back bulbs.

[JScott]

Have you used any hormone products to try to rehabilitate the plant, like root or growth stimulators? I've read that excessive use of hormones can cause plants to grow in strange ways. I don't know if hormones could cause plants to grow in this particular strange way, but I've never heard of this before, so I'm just throwing it out there.

---------- Post added at 04:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:02 PM ----------

I just bought this same plant last week, but mine is spiking from the normal places lol

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by JScott

Have you used any hormone products to try to rehabilitate the plant, like root or growth stimulators? I've read that excessive use of hormones can cause plants to grow in strange ways. I don't know if hormones could cause plants to grow in this particular strange way, but I've never heard of this before, so I'm just throwing it out there.

---------- Post added at 04:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:02 PM ----------

I just bought this same plant last week, but mine is spiking from the normal places lol

Good question . . . but no hormone products used. No Seaweed extract, KLN, Superthrive, etc.

The only thing I did to the plant was the occasional bare-root, whole plant soak in water with just enough detergent to make the water soapy. This was to kill any remaining mites. The plant stayed bare root (outdoors) for a couple months before I started new root growth and finally repotted it. Other than that, same water regimen as my other plants.

[estación seca]

I mentioned an Oncidium Sharry Baby solitary back bulb sprouting a plantlet from the very apex.

There is a dormant meristem above every leaf or bract. If the plant decides to flower, and the usual meristems have already grown then died, or have been killed by bugs or disease, the plant may have nothing left but the one at the apex.