J Fortuna wrote:
experience) having an orchid in bloom is more important than for experts
(such as Rob). And even though experts claim that a secondary blooming is
never as impressive as a primary one, for those of us with less experience
the difference is either not noticeable or unimportant. I assume that this
may be your only orchid plant right now, whereas Rob has a greenhouse full
of them, and thus one flower in bloom more or less makes less difference to
him. Also you never know whether or not you will be successful in getting
Thanks for the vote of confidence Joanna... Actually the greenhouse
isn't up yet, and I have yet to enjoy the luxury of having a whole
greenhouse (or plant room) full of simultaneously blooming plants. That
isn't for lack of plants, mind you. I think, however, that I mostly
agree with you. It is easy (easier?) to defer gratification when you
know that the plant will bloom again. I'm reasonably confident that if
I cut the spike off of a plant that I will see another one. And when I
first started growing I would have probably tried to rebloom it. Any
flower is a good flower.
That said, I've tried it both ways often enough to know that a secondary
blooming can really stress a plant. So, whenever I'm in doubt I will
cut off the whole inflorescence, knowing that this is the only way I'll
see another blooming (at some far distant time, perhaps). The main
problem is that a lot of the phalaenopsis you buy at the mega-mart
aren't in very happy condition. The flowers may look nice, but the
plant is obviously stressed (yellowed leaves, wilting, etc.). Sometimes
you get hold of a vigorous plant in excellent condition, and there is
absolutely no reason to avoid reblooming the spike. Over the internet,
it is hard to tell which plant is being asked about, so I almost always
defer to the safe "cut it off" advice. In my own collection, assuming
the plant is healthy, I don't cut anything (keeps viruses away! - and
I'm lazy), if they rebloom they rebloom. If not, oh well.
I have also heard that you almost never get a secondary blooming if you
cut the spike after Mother's day. I've heard various claims on that
(Easter, Memorial day, Canada day...). And who knows what happens in
the antipodes. I'm pretty sure that is bogus, at least with current
breeding. And I don't think a secondary blooming is any less
'impressive', although there are usually fewer flowers. Some plants (
and owners) will push it, however, and rebloom the secondary
inflorescence, and rebloom that... etc. Eventually it gets to be a very
long bare stem with all sorts of twists and turns and a few flowers at
the end. I find that less than pleasing.
Rob
--
Rob's Rules:
http://www.msu.edu/~halgren
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a. See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase
more orchids, obtain more credit
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