Just the kind of orchids that I wanted to buy, the ones that can grow in
water. That way I can never water it too much.

auntymo wrote:
well here is the whole story. make of it what you will (i was pretty amazed
by it).

it was one of my early purchases from HD, a hybrid phal which i bought in
bloom. i decided to wait to repot it until it had finished blooming, which
was a big mistake (i have since learned that sphag hates me). the original
spike had branched and there were buds on it, but they blasted. at this
point i decided to repot and found the poor thing had no roots, so i cut the
spike off (without trimming any part of it), and just for kicks threw it in
a glass of water on my drafty south windowsill. i can't remember when i did
this but i think it was in november when i repotted everything.

shortly before xmas i noticed the spike had started a second branch! i just
shook my head in amazement. the tip on the first branch (whos buds blasted)
was still green at that point. the second branch got longer and longer, and
then i went on holidays mid-feb just when i could see a hint of a bud
starting.

upon arriving home (mid-march) i noticed it had one big fat bud that looked
close to opening, and a smaller one starting. but unfortunately the
housesitter had also let it go dry. so who knows if the bud will blast or
not, but i find it pretty interesting to see this kind of behaviour.

--mo--