Off Season Neo Spike, Kankiten 歓喜天

[Hakumin]

Hmm. An off season spike, but oh what a spike.

[Pattywack]

Look at that color! Off season or not, that is beautiful and I’m excited to see this one flower for you!

[charlesf6]

Wow!

[Pattywack]

Originally Posted by charlesf6

Wow!

I KNOW!!!

[Shoreguy]

The plant is giving you a gift for the care provided.

[camille1585]

I don't know how to say it any better than the others, so WOW!! Who needs, blooms, the spike itself is a work of art!

[bjmac]

Wonderful color will the spike keep this color as the flowers mature?

[Hakumin]

Originally Posted by bjmac

Wonderful color will the spike keep this color as the flowers mature?

Well, I had only just gotten this plant a couple months ago. In fact it's probably the sudden change in growing conditions that caused it to spike right now to begin with.

Information on this variety in the books and Japanese/Korean websites don't really mention the color of the spike or flowers, so in this case, I think the only way to verify is to just wait and see.

[Neodex]

Wow again. Very nice !

I guess this variety might have ruby roots ?

The reason I ask is that the new leaves appear to be of the ghost type like Kinbotan (cannot remember the name for this feature).
Just a bit of wild speculation, but, if anthocyanins are expressed without chlorophyll present to muddy the colour this is exactly what you'd expect.
The prediction is that the spike colour will last as long as it takes for the new leaves to green up (more or less), because my guess is that the mutation which causes
the ghost leaves slows down the production of chlorophyll in newly formed tissue by whatever mechanism (delay in chloroplast maturation for example ?).
Also, if anthocyanin is expressed in the roots then you will also have spectacular ruby roots in spring. This is very interesting, please keep us updated.

[Hakumin]

Originally Posted by Neodex

I guess this variety might have ruby roots...
...Also, if anthocyanin is expressed in the roots then you will also have spectacular ruby roots in spring. This is very interesting, please keep us updated.

Yes the variety does have ruby roots. Exceptionally dark ones at that, to the extent that the variety is famous for them.

Originally Posted by Neodex

The reason I ask is that the new leaves appear to be of the ghost type like Kinbotan (cannot remember the name for this feature).

When a neo gets light colored or striped new leaves that later turn solid green, the trait is called Akebono-fu. It is sometimes also referred to as Botan-gei.

Originally Posted by Neodex

Just a bit of wild speculation, but, if anthocyanins are expressed without chlorophyll present to muddy the colour this is exactly what you'd expect.

Yes that's exactly the reason ruby and pink roots happen. Ruby roots specifically though also require strong anthocyanin pigmentation in addition to the lack of chlorophyll. Otherwise you get pale pink or peachy colored roots depending on the presence of yellow pigmentation.

Originally Posted by Neodex

The prediction is that the spike colour will last as long as it takes for the new leaves to green up (more or less), because my guess is that the mutation which causes
the ghost leaves slows down the production of chlorophyll in newly formed tissue by whatever mechanism (delay in chloroplast maturation for example ?).

Close but not quite. The plant has bloomed since this post was originally made, and most of the pink pigmentation has actually faded away as the spike kept growing, in addition to the spike gaining green pigmentation, leaving a pale green spike with tiny pink flecks. It turns out to be a fleeting color, but that ephemeral nature suits it just fine too.