Help, buds twisted?
 

Hi everyone,
I have a bulbo rothschildianum. This is its FIRST blooming.

There are two buds, but they are both twisted around each other...is this normal? will they correct themselves as they get bigger? the last week they have untwisted a lot but still at least 3 more turns to go before they actually separate from each other.

Any help would be appreciated!
Helen

Hi Helen,

my hunch is that they would untwist themselves. i've once has a leaf that got caught on the tip and as it grew it developed into a distorted leaf. It'll be good if you have a picture that all of us could see.

Question, do you rotate your pot in the sunlight? I'm wondering if you rotated it while they were growing thus causing the twisting.

You might need to give the plant more water, most bulbo flowers open better and get bigger/longer with abundant moisture. If the pseudobulbs are at all wrinkled or creased then the plant is not hydrated optimally for blooming. If the sepals are stuck together try spritzing them with a little water, sometimes this helps un-gum things.

--Nat

Hi, I may have turned it, but I am growing under lights, so it should be even all around. In the meantime, my two buds have uncurled themselves, but I did spritz them many times per day...They are adorable.

Thanks to everyone for all your good advice!
Helen
p.s. the photo was just before they uncurled from each other

Wow! Those are lovely flowers...good thing it all worked out for you

OMG Helen, I am sooo jealous!!!! Those are gorgeous!!!! I'm still waiting for the first of my 3 bulbo's to bloom.

gnathaniel, so do you think I should be watering them daily since mine haven't bloomed? I have two mounted (1 in a terrarium with 80 to 90 percent humidity and 1 in a windowsill watered once, sometimes twice a day) and 1 potted in a 1/2 oncidium and 1/2 paph medium mix.

WOW!!! What a lovely Bulbo!

Great Growing! they look beautiful!

Nice job, Helen, I love this species!

Paul, from your description it sounds like you're probably watering adequately, but go by how the plants look. What species do you have? Some in the genus are free-blooming, but in my experience most have certain seasons maybe cued by temperature changes, etc. If your plants are happy and healthy they'll usually bloom well when their season rolls around.

--Nat