Spike & vanda Q's: Is this normal? - Orchid Board

Buds! · #1 09-23-2008, 12:55 AM

Hi everyone,
After showing off

on the OB a few weeks ago with my first vanda bloom, something strange has happened.
My Vanda Blue Magic is still blooming beautifully, but it has decided to put out another spike whilst there are still flowers on the first spike!

Is this normal?

My other question:
My Asc Pink Mikasa has very little roots, I pulled it out of bark in May, has also decided to spike!
It is a very small plant and looks kind of weak. At one stage I thought she wasn't going to make it.

It is great to have 'spikes' but I am just a bit worried that these vandas may bloom themselves to 'bad health'?

What do the experts think?

Thank you,
Juliet

dgenovese1 · #2 09-23-2008, 01:14 AM

Juliet,

Congrats on the second spike on your V. Blue Magic! I congratulate you because sometimes Vandas do this if they are very happy.

If your plant is otherwise healthy...lots of growing roots and robust appearance, I wouldn't worry about this one...it's a good thing.

As for your Ascda. Princess Mikasa 'Pink', you may want to consider doing one of two things, based on the fact that your plant is in bad shape. It may be trying to simply produce flowers to reproduce before kicking the bucket.

Here are your choices. You can leave the spike on in hopes of seeing some beautiful flowers. With the plant already stressed, this may very well do it in; or you can remove the spike to lessen the stress on the plant in hopes of bringing it back to a more healthy state.

I for one find it very difficult to remove unopened flower spikes on plants, even when they are in trouble. It is a difficult choice. On one hand you lose the flowers that we grow our orchids for, and on the other, you're taking a chance of losing the whole plant.

Buds! · #3 09-23-2008, 04:07 AM

Hi David,
Thank you for your reply!
Don't you just hate these kind of 'tough love' decisions! This little Asc. Pink Princess Mikasa has a real habit of sending out spikes! It came with a spike in May, I made the hard decision and snipped it off, and now it is doing it again!!!

I may just have to bite the bullet!

Buds! · #4 09-23-2008, 04:07 AM

Hi David,
Thank you for your reply!
Don't you just hate these kind of 'tough love' decisions! This little Asc. Princess Mikasa 'Pink' has a real habit of sending out spikes! It came with a spike in May, I made the hard decision and snipped it off then, and now it is doing it again!!!

I may just have to bite the bullet!

JennS · #5 09-23-2008, 03:12 PM

Buds! I have to agree with David. I do think that the Princess Mikasa tend to be pretty strong and robust, and letting it flower might not kill it, but it will just keep setting it back for the future. Mine did the same thing as yours, finished blooming in May and is blooming again now, with a second spike on the way. I think you should remove it, just in case!

Swamper · #6 09-23-2008, 03:52 PM

IF and that's a big IF you were growing it in the same conditions I am then I would say let it be. But I am not familiar with your growing method so I don't know

I would probably still let it be and if it dies buy another one.

dgenovese1 · #7 09-24-2008, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buds!

Hi David,
Thank you for your reply!
Don't you just hate these kind of 'tough love' decisions! This little Asc. Princess Mikasa 'Pink' has a real habit of sending out spikes! It came with a spike in May, I made the hard decision and snipped it off then, and now it is doing it again!!!

I may just have to bite the bullet!

You're welcome Juliet...I'm glad I could help, although I'm not sure how much. You're right, it is a kind of tough love decision.