Just another flower spike

[Shadeflower]

so yeah sorry in advance if this is boring but I said to myself even though I have several orchids producing flower spikes at the moment I haven't noted anything new in my diary in a while so I went hunting for something new in the garden and I got lucky.
This was one of those beginner joy moments when you discover your first flower spike. In ways I am still a beginner especially for a lot of my orchids as lots have never flowered before like this one. So when that magical moment arrives it is a bit of a eureka moment, then it fades and you need to buy yet another orchid to get the same satisfaction again but that's another story lol.

In the distance I saw lurking something poking out of the greenery. Yes it was a trapped little thing and good I went out hunting tonight. The spike had been entangled by a hugging leaf and couldn't break free by itself so out came my machete, gave it a nudge and the flower spike was free.
I discovered some black beetle along the way I tried to squash but that got away this time unfortunately.

So here we have my odontoglossum leroyanum (Odontoglossum crispum x Odontoglossum luteopurpureum) bought from petrens in Belgium 2 years ago flowering for the first time sometime January, possibly February next year?

[Roberta]

The thrill of finding a new spike, especially on a plant that hasn't bloomed, or hasn't bloomed recently, never fades. So thanks for sharing it!

[Shadeflower]

and my garciana makes a small appearance

[Roberta]

Prothechea garciana is such a rewarding species! Blooms a couple of times a year and as it it get bigger extends the bloom by popping out flowers over a long time. Well done!

[SADE2020]

Curvy Spike... Can wait to see the flowers! And also nice Graciana bloom. Enjoy

[Shadeflower]

Thx you two. Sade the curvy one got trapped growing.
It's straightening out, it will be completely straight by the time it flowers.
It happens a fair bit on first flowerings, the flowers aren't as strong yet. Just glad I spotted it was getting stuck.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

It happens a fair bit on first flowerings, the flowers aren't as strong yet. Just glad I spotted it was getting stuck.

Actually, some plants do just have a tendency to trap spikes even as the plant matures... Oncidinae especially. Very good that you caught it early on and set it free!

[nemesis]

I cannot wait to see the flowers. It is going to be a stunner!

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Speaking of trapped spikes, one of my hybrid phals is pushing a spike that emerged and turned 180 degrees to start pushing against the stem. I had seen somewhere a suggestion to wedge a tag between the stem and spike tip to try to redirect the growth. It worked.

[Shadeflower]

very good dusty. I've officially run out of bright enough spots for 2 of mine. so 2 phals have had to go on the backbenches and don't want to produce a spike as a result this year. Time for me to downsize or find a new spot. Tricky growing decisions.

I have never seen this odontoglossum cross I am growing flower before so I got curious. This is what wikipedia had to say on one of the parents:

Odontoglossum crispum, the curled odontoglossum, is an epiphytic orchid from the genus Odontoglossum. It is considered by many to be the most beautiful orchid of all but is also one of the most difficult to grow

Considered by many to be the most beautiful orchid eh? Made me laugh, says who.
I think the odontoglossum naevium looks quite nice too. And Cattleya's probably have the nicest flowers but nice to hear I can get "one of the most difficult" to flower. Not that I agree, it gets the same care as my dendrobium nobiles basically. Just a cool semi shaded spot. Granted mine is a hybrid, anyway still a long wait here before it's ready although dusty I think it might beat your phal to it.