Me thinks my Phal Violacea has a spike :) - Orchid Board

Jennyfleur · #1 04-12-2011, 07:26 AM

Hello Hello,

Not much to report at the moment as I can't get a good picture, but I think my Violacea is finally spiking

It'll be the first one for this plant which is why I'm quite excited.

She's been putting out loads of new roots lately but this little nub is coming from the same spot my hybrids spike from.

So, while it's growing, I was wondering if I could check a couple of things with you guys:

I wasn't planning on putting a stake support in - do you agree?

and

am I right in thinking that, with these, once the flowers drop it's best to just leave the spike in case it re-blooms?

(I really hope it is a spike now, if not, I'm gonna look a bit silly writing all this!!

)

silken · #2 04-12-2011, 11:32 AM

Doesn't hurt to be prepared

Yes, you should leave the spike as they do carry on blooming. And the spike is usually pretty short, so likely no need or room to stake it. fingers crossed for you that its a spike!

Jennyfleur · #3 04-12-2011, 12:26 PM

Thanks Silken

I've only checked it twice today to ake sure I wasn't dreaming this morning... this could be a record!

FairyInTheFlowers · #4 04-12-2011, 01:30 PM

OOOO! How exciting!

Jennyfleur · #5 04-12-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlazingAugust

OOOO! How exciting!

Thanks Blazing (or may I call you Cody?) ... though I have to 'up' my peeks to 4 now and I'm bound to get in another before bed!!

FairyInTheFlowers · #6 04-12-2011, 04:07 PM

You can call me Cody.

And don't worry about peeking. When my Penang Girl was opening, I peeked several times an hour!

Jennyfleur · #7 04-12-2011, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlazingAugust

You can call me Cody.

And don't worry about peeking. When my Penang Girl was opening, I peeked several times an hour!

Glad I'm not the only one!!

Jennyfleur · #8 05-05-2011, 08:43 AM

I'm sorry to report folks, it looks like a false alarm

Definately rootish growth coming out there and a couple of other leaf joints - I've never seen roots coming out from there before (which why I assumed it was a spike!) *sigh* oh well, better keep trying!

camille1585 · #9 05-05-2011, 09:05 AM

That's too bad

Are you absolutely sure that it isn't a spike? In any case, when it does spike there is no need to stake it. The spikes are very short, and look much better the way they grow naturally rather than staked upright.

Jennyfleur · #10 05-05-2011, 09:40 AM

I'm 99.99% sure - it's got a silvery base and it's growing with a green tip, which says 'root' to me... Unless violacea are different!