Incomplete resupination

[ArronOB]

Many of my orchids, when they flower, do not complete their resupination.

I think maybe this is because I usually bring my orchids inside when they flower, usually just as the buds are starting to open. Maybe the change of conditions or light direction interrupts or confuses the twisting process.

Has anyone investigated this ?

It doesn’t completely ruin the impact of the flowering, but they would look a lot nicer if all flowers were oriented naturally.

I have attached a couple of photos. Note some flowers have completed resupination, some have not. This is normal for me - maybe a ratio of 2 completed for every one not complete.

[Ray]

I don’t know if you’re “causing” that by moving them. I’ve seen that happen in my greenhouse with no relocating having been done.

Why don’t you try leaving them along an extra bit and see if they all orient themselves fully?

[Arizona Jeanie]

Please help me learn the language--what do these words mean?
Supination
Resupination
Incomplete Resupination.
What am I looking at (or should be seeing!) on the flower pictures?

Thanks!

[ArronOB]

Originally Posted by Arizona Jeanie

Please help me learn the language--what do these words mean?
Supination
Resupination
Incomplete Resupination.
What am I looking at (or should be seeing!) on the flower pictures?

Thanks!

All orchid flowers twist through 180 degrees as they mature, so the flower in effect turns upside down

The Upside Down World of Orchid Flowers — In Defense of Plants

Why does this matter - well, if the process of turning upside down is interrupted, one or more of the flowers will not be aligned in the same way as the others near it - it’ll be growing at an odd angle - as you can see with the middle flower in each photo. This looks a bit ugly - or at least not as attractive as all flowers in a row. I presume it also eliminates the plant from shows and competitions.

Cheers
Arron

[Roberta]

Resupination describes the behavior of orchids where the lip starts at the top in bud form, but turns as the flower opens so that the lip is at the bottom of the flower. Especially when buds are a bit crowded (or sometimes for no obvious reason) flowers open with the lip sideways, or even at the top.

Now, there are some orchids that normally have the lip at the top - a lot of the Prosthecheas for instance. These are "non-resupinate" flowers.

Couple of examples... The C. labiata is the classic form - resupinate. The Prosthechea (Encyclia) garciana and Prosthechea cochleata are non-resupinate.