blossoms on main stem - Orchid Board

quiltingwacko · #1 08-30-2010, 12:47 AM

A friend has a Phaleonopsis with three blossoms on the main stem of the plant. There is no inflorescence at all. What causes this? Carol

Bird Song Farm · #2 08-30-2010, 04:15 AM

Here is a case where a picture is worth a thousand words. Anyway you can get one?
Al

Junebug · #3 08-30-2010, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bird Song Farm

Here is a case where a picture is worth a thousand words. Anyway you can get one?
Al

I agree...3 blossoms with no inflorescence is a conflicting statement. Three growths with no inflorescence perhaps???

quiltingwacko · #4 08-30-2010, 08:21 PM

Okay here are the pictures. There is no "branch" for the blossoms. They come directly out of the main "trunk" of the plant. I thought you called this "branch" an inflorescence. In this case it is non-existant. Clear? Carol

quiltingwacko · #5 08-31-2010, 12:21 AM

Does my post not make sense? It wouldn't be the first time, or the last. It is not unhealthy, just weird. Not as weird as my striped Miltoniopsis, but still weird. Doe no one know why this occurs? Carol

Call_Me_Bob · #6 08-31-2010, 12:25 AM

i understand what you mean and what you are asking. the problem is that i dont have any answers, sorry

GL

quiltergal · #7 08-31-2010, 02:21 AM

Carol it almost looks like the spike started to emerge but for whatever reason got stuck. Orchids being the persistent critters that they are made the most of a bad situation and forced out whatever blooms it could.

As to why?? Could be any number of reasons culturally. During development the plant could have got too cold, too dry.... Every now and then weird things like this show up like flowers with no lips. I've had that happen a few times. Just a genetic hiccup.

Eyebabe · #8 08-31-2010, 09:46 AM

Have you/they kinda "dug down" into the bark a bit to see if there is some small spike in there?
I still just can tell where the inflorescence in originating from...

Bird Song Farm · #9 08-31-2010, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyebabe

Have you/they kinda "dug down" into the bark a bit to see if there is some small spike in there?
I still just can tell where the inflorescence in originating from...

Ditto, carefully trace back from the base (back) of the blossom. In the tangled mess of roots, carefully look for a small spike.
Otherwise I'd have to say its a mutation. ???

quiltingwacko · #10 08-31-2010, 11:41 AM

Thanks guys. I figured it was a genetic hiccup or something like that. Those of us with too many orchids know that weird things happen. My friend with the plant in question, only has about a dozen. I think she is nicely infected with the disease however.

I had a blossom once that was double, sort of like a Siamese twin blossom. Really pretty though. I just enjoyed it. Did not worry about it. Doubt it will do it again. Carol

It was orange. That is all I remember. That means I have too many orchids, huh?