Expert Opinions Needed
 

In mid April I posted a thread similar to this one. The thread was in reference to a mature Noid Vanda (originally received as a cutting with 2 roots) that has never bloomed for me. I began giving it more light exposure in early April and it started producing a small growth in a space where a leaf had been. Most OB responses suggested a root. Unlike a root this growth has not changed much in 6 or 7 weeks. It has never looked like a root to me. It's smaller and firmer and harder than a root and it's growth has ever so slightly changed. I'm including some new photos taken from different angles along with root photos from the same plant. Should I begin to get excited about the prospect of a first bloom spike or might this be the beginnings of a Keiki. What do you guys think this time? Photo #4 is a for sure root and the frog is looking at another root in #5. The first three photos show the growth in question as well as #5 above the frog.

Hi Junebug,

I have a vanda that looked like that too and it was a root. I have one now that has 2 growths. 1 looks slightly different that hopefully will be spike and the other will probably be a root. I'll just have to wait and see like you.:tapfoot: These guys are so sloooow. I'm giving mine daily watering with fertalizer. Switched to 20-20-20 Cross fingers, toes, etc.

Thanks for the response Lorraine. What strikes me is the roots usually just bust out from nowhere and in a very short period of time. They also appear smooth and glossy in the beginning as opposed to this thing. I've got two new roots that popped out within a matter of a few days with no warning other than a very brief period of swelling before they emerged. The questionable bump has the texture and color of the plant itself....is much higher up on the plant and is located at the position of a missing leaf which is making me think Keiki. What ever this is it sure is taking it's good ole time. I'm tired of crossing my fingers, toes, eyes etc.
and I think it's time to swear a little.

Well, June .. for now .. they are nubbins ;)
:coverlaugh:
Keep us posted as to what they grow into :nod::Tup:

Swear all you want! :rofl: These guys are like kids and some husbands they don't listen!!! (Let me know if any of your words work I might need some new ones):rofl:

Thanks Dorothy. At this rate of growth I may not live to see the outcome.

:yikes: Oh my! June ..

OMG, Women! That all the poor little thing needs is TLC. A little music wouldn't hurt either.

The plant looks fine and that surely looks like a root to me :)

As D said...nubbin for now ;)

I have noticed when there is a leaf missing, the roots tend to shoot out of there almost instantaneously... maybe for some reason it didn't care for that spot and headed back in... but the flower spikes almost always start from a healthy leaf axis and don't usually "bust out" like the roots do, they kind of pop up and before you realize it are already half way out of the leaf area.

I've included another photo taken on 5/15. Ironically, it looks like it was bigger 2 weeks ago. I'm so fixated on this one bump that I sometimes don't notice what's going on around it. In this close-up it shows partial tear damage to the leaf above as well. The damage and leaf loss were probably a result of a sudden storm with gusty winds. This baby was hanging from an Orange tree last year and may have struck a limb during a storm. Anyway, I'm thinking damage can result in kieki formation...right??? :scratchhead: ....and the color and texture of the bump is like the plant itself. There has never been an appearance of smooth, bright green glossiness that an emerging root usually displays.:scratchhead: "Momma Vanda" from which this cutting was taken, was a keiki producing maniac, but very beautiful. This one has keikied once before, near the base of the plant, during it's early growth. My life was more than hectic at that time and I don't recall how the keiki looked at the onset of formation. Here's another photo that gives a better visual of the texture and color.

Very well could be a Keiki if it has roots growing all around it at a much more rapid pace... only time will tell!

Well now, I have an opinion...expert it isn't though:rofl: In my humble opinion, it looks like a root. So good luck with the wait. All will be revealed soon I'm sure

Lecent

The Mystery Vanda Root? Keiki? Nubbin? Saga Continues
 

A few days ago I noticed yet another mystery bump on my Vanda. :shock: This one is located just below the slow growing bump that presented itself in early April and has the same texture and appearance as the plant itself. In addition to the mystery bumps, the plant has produced 2 rapidly growing roots within the last 3 weeks. What is going on here? Wouldn't it be wonderful if these are multiple spikes. Has anyone ever had a Vanda produce 2 spikes from the same side at the same time?

I had one that was similiar but what happened was that it split into two to produce two leads. Not really a keiki as there are no roots where the split occured. Mine now looks like 3 heads. One growing to the left, one to the right, and the original in the middle. I will try to take a pic. over the weekend. One can never predict exactly what orchids are capable of.

Thanks for your input Don. I'd love to see your photos. Did your multiple head production delay the bloom cycle? You don't know how bad I want this baby to bloom. I'm starting to hear the song "Anticipation" playing in my head. This plant is the result of a cutting I received about 4 years ago. The original Noid was such a sprawling beauty with gorgeous blooms. We've had such a dry spell in Central Florida so I purchased an inexpensive mister and have been misting for 10 min. 2 or three times daily for the past 2 weeks and am fertilizing weakly every week with a urea free bloom booster.

The top bump seems to be coming from the right spot to be a spike the lower one could be anything. The one thing I noticed about the plant is that it is a "semi-terete" and requires a LOT of light to grow and particularly "flower" well. I trust that its getting it.

Last year she was getting about 4 hours of dappled SW exposure. I moved her to a new location several weeks ago and she's now receiving about 4 to 5 hours of full East to SE exposure which is pretty close to what her momma got.

That change of position will make a lot of difference for the better in coming seasons. It was way too shady before. It may take a while for it to show but it will be worth it.

What ever became of the nubbins? I am very curious!!!

Hi Jenn, Thanks for asking. The lower nubbin that was nestled inside the leaf has turned brown. :(( The original bump that was located in the vacant leaf space is still there and still unchanged. :roll: I've included recent photos. There has been abundant root growth and 4 new leaves have fully developed. :) It's been difficult to maintain enough sun exposure for most of my plants (especially this one). Our rainy season has been in full force and every day has been primarily overcast and by 2:00 p.m. it looks like dusk.

Man but it looks nice and healthy. Blooms or not it looks awesome.

I am having the same problem in Orlando with the low sun exposure. I don't think it will really hurt too much though as the weather man is now saying we will be dry again for a few days next week. I know mine are at least loving all the rain, humidity and moisture. I do have one that is starting a spike (the very very very beginning of a spike), so there is still hope.

It did look like your nubbin was a bit bigger then in the other pics to me though. :scratchhead: Maybe there is something happening, just very slowly?