First V. coerulea, first spike - any advice welcome.

[Triffid]

So my wonderful husband bought me a long desired V coerulea for my birthday in June. Not long after I got it set up in it's vase it decided to reward me with the rowth of strong new roots. About two weeks ago it started to produce a spike.

I maintain it's required water, and have a secondary spray bottle with dileted feed also. Live in the UK, have a daylight bulb for when the clouds decide to party, and check the plan daily (well they are thirsty blighters)

Now the thing is I am not that well at the moment, I have two slipped discs in my neck and on powerfull painkillers. So doing normal things has become "Tricky" (yes, even typing this)

I have had an Ascocenda for a few years and managed to keep that going quite well and has bloomed on a few ocasions in that time. Yet even that has suffered a little recenly, due to my current state.

No sympathy for me please!
But any tips that may make it easier for me to keep the spike going and perhaps caoks it up without breaking it would be very much appreciated.

(sorry for any typos)

[BradGC]

Nice! I have been waiting patiently for mine to flower as well - it's similar size to yours, perhaps slightly smaller.

There's not much advice needed, just keep the plant steady, it obviously likes what you're doing so as they say.. " keep on keepin on".

Just wondering out of interest, what season was it when it started the spike? I guess autumn?

[silken]

Sorry to here about your neck problems. It must be painful. Hope you recover soon. I don't have a V. coerulea but I have a hybrid that has quite a bit in its parentage (V. Sansai Blue). Mine started a spike about a month ago and I just keep doing the same thing. Water it every day and we are having quite a bit of heat and sun so I often soak it for a while too. It is developing well so I guess it is happy. I do try and keep the orientation of the spike the same all the time so that it might stay in a nice form. Will look for pics of yours when it blooms!

[Triffid]

BradGC,
Thanks Will do my best
Late Summer/Early Autumn is about right I'd say, weather wise.

Silken,
Thanks Painful yes, but have specialist, appropriate painkillers and the will to recover - have my little green darlings to take care of after all
Like you I would soak my Vanda, but enough said that's become triky. And following your comment, will definitely not be trying to move it from current location (again). If it should bloom I will post the results (regardless of the potential for mutant blooms)

[Jayfar]

Must be the time of the season for these. I had my V. coerulea since ~November 2011 and almost killed it with a rot up top a long time ago. But shortly after I removed the bad part it sprouted a keiki just below the damage, which now has 7+ pairs of leaves. In the past couple months the keiki finally produced one fat root of its own and a few weeks back began to spike. Now the spike is about 7", so I'm guessing within the next few weeks I'll finally see some blooms.

[Vanda lover]

I think if it is in vase culture, just continue the once a week soakings and daily mistings. It don't think there is an easier way. Good luck!

[RosieC]

for the spikes

for the slipped disks

Sorry I can't give advice on the vanda, I've not got the hang of these yet. Good luck with it though and hope your neck get's better soon.

[Bud]

Relax, maintain what you are doing=the plant loves it and it has given you a spike.... do not change position of the vase or put it in another area of your house. This picture you showed us is very critical stage for a spike it might blast on you for any reason: humidity , heat or light changes.
but it is exciting to see a spike forming on a coerulea....its going to give you beautiful blooms.

[Triffid]

Thank you all for you comments. Will keep doing what I've been doing, as much as possible. Will be having a nexk op in October, and hubby has promised to look after the plants as best he can when I can't. Though even he admits he has less than a green thumb - lol

Jayfa,
make sure you post picsof the bloom

Rosie
Thanks for the chuckle

[Triffid]

Well I'm back, the plant bloomed

Went into hospital for operation on neck and husband took care of my green baby. Literally bloomed fully the day I came home. So here's some pictures.
Thanks again folks