Scaphosepalum breve spike questions

[DirtyCoconuts]

Hi all, i have this plant growing in SH in my bathroom window sill. I had thought it was super happy as it has put about 20 or so new growths and about 14 flower spikes....the oldest spike has what looks to me like one blasted flower and then i just dont know if the spike is developing right or not. since there are so many, i dont want them to all blast and id like to change what ever is wrong now if i can.

the conditions are between my house and outside since it is hottest in this bathroom but never over 80 and the humidity is higher thanthe rest of the house too.

it grows directly next to a restrepia and a Lepanthes who are always in flower so i dont think it is too hot...please help as i would really love to see these flowers


oldest spike


Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr



next oldest


Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr



the plant from above


Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr


or do i just need to wait longer?




the neighbors

Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr


Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr

[DirtyCoconuts]

Bump. Anyone have experience with these guys?

[wisdomseeker]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Hi all, i have this plant growing in SH in my bathroom window sill. I had thought it was super happy as it has put about 20 or so new growths and about 14 flower spikes....the oldest spike has what looks to me like one blasted flower and then i just dont know if the spike is developing right or not. since there are so many, i dont want them to all blast and id like to change what ever is wrong now if i can.

the conditions are between my house and outside since it is hottest in this bathroom but never over 80 and the humidity is higher thanthe rest of the house too.

I no longer have this species, and I'm not able to answer your question about bud blast.

Kept this one going for several years (and it rewarded me with several divisions) before downsizing my collection. Grew these in terrariums and they thrived (both mounted and potted). Always stayed in flower (on & off) throughout the year. Don't know if this will be of any help, but none the less, I'll toss it out there...

They seemed to do better (mainly because watering was easier for me) in pots. Used net pots. Used 1/3 sphagnum (bottom of pot) and 2/3 fine bark as growing medium. Fairly high RH (75-85%), kept moist year round, medium/bright artificial lighting (photo-period around 10 hours), temps. usually hoovering around +/- 80F range during the day, mid/lower 70ish F range at night.

Your plant looks strong and healthy. I'd give it some time, especially since your Restrepia & Lepanthes are doing their thing.

[Roberta]

I don't have this particular Scaphosepalum, but I have a bunch of others and I think they have similar behavior. I find that they put out some flowers sequentially on a spike, then the spikes poop out, it sits there for awhile, then puts out another flush of spikes. Once they get bigger, the interval between flushes of blooming spikes gets shorter. I have a Sspm. verrucosum that was one of those SBOE $7.50 specials, a small plant, that sat there for a couple of years. As it has gotten fuller, now it's almost never out of bloom. So I think just patience.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Thanks you both so much. I was thinking I should just wait as it Seems happy but there is that itch to “fix” it and tinker


Hopefully it starts to use all these spikes for some flowers soon!!!

[DirtyCoconuts]

well, there are now 22 spikes and they are all looooong and this first one is finally getting the swing of things


please click and then click again to enlarge, its a bad pic of a very tough subject, taken in less than ideal lighting conditions LOL


but it is still very exciting to ME


enjoy


Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr

[Roberta]

Nice! I totallyl love Scaphosepalums, though they are really hard to photograph - tiny, intricate, and very three-dimensional so tough to get all in focus at once.

[DirtyCoconuts]

here- i tried again before it died

Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr


Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr




Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr

[Roberta]

There will be more chances... these little guys are sequential bloomers. And with all those spikes, once it gets going it'll be in bloom much of the time. Nice!

[DirtyCoconuts]

The spikes are so long compared to the plant. These must grow on a crowded apace in situ to be shooting their flowers so far!!