Vanda spike growth speed

[Lupin]

Hello everybody.

I have received a gift from my family, it is a Vanda (unknown specices-I am sorry but I cannot find the information on it). After several months, I noticed a spike appear.

However, after nearly 4 weeks, It grows quite slowly, only about 5mm in 1 month.

Could you please tell me if there is anything wrong? (light, fertilizer, water...etc??? )

In my experience with other orchids specices, when the spike appears, the root and leaves stop growing or grow very slowly, it seams that the plant focus soly on the flower. But my Vanda keeps producing new leaves and new roots....

[tucker85]

You're correct, vandas continue to grow year round, if the conditions are appropriate. They flower at the same time that they're putting on new growth. That's different than some other orchids, like some cattleyas, that often have a growing period and a blooming period. I'm not sure if your vandas spike is growing slower than most, but if it is, I would suspect that a little more light would help. Good luck.

[nikkik]

I agree with tucker85 that I'm unsure if your spike is growing slower then most. My personal experience with my vandas, is I have had some spike and flower in no time at all and I've had others that from spotting the initial spike to flowering seemed to take FOREVER.

It is also difficult to give you advice about your culture without knowing how you culture your plant, but I wouldn't change your conditions too much while your plant is in spike. I have blasted spikes before by trying to help the plant flower faster (that's what I get for my impatience). Good luck and I'm sure you'll get your flowers soon.

[Lupin]

Thank you you all for your replies.

Yes it looks like that it takes forever for the spike to grow. After 1 month it looks exactly the same....


But yes I think I will not change the culture so much, except increasing the light a little bit. This month it gets a little bit less light that 2 previous months..

[FSUOrchids]

I've found that some orchids in general just take longer to grow spikes than others. I have one phal spiking right now that started growing that spike like 2-3 months ago. It really varies.

[Lupin]

Yes I will be patient. But there is one think else I should ask. Do you think it is normal for the spike to inch upward only a half cm for more than 6 weeks?