Vanda Orchid spiking problem??
I have a 7 year old Vanda that I recently purchased.
Over the past month or so a beautiful long spike has appeared. At the end of the spike are about 4-5 nodules which look like they could turn into flowers. The spike is now turning a bit yellow near the last third of the spike. The little 4-5 nodules / buds seem like they are turning a bit brownish with a bit of a darker color inside them (could be the flower). I have never done this before. Is the spike supposed to do this or is there a major problem going on where the spike is dying before the flowers have even erupted / bloomed? I have watered it every day and fertilized with an orchid bloom fertilizer about 1/week. Any advice would be helpful. I will see if I can post a picture sooon. I hope this can be saved. I would like to succeed in getting an orchid to bloom finally. |
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Pictures of problem spike???:
http://www.consumergroup.com/spike.jpg http://www.consumergroup.com/spike2.jpg http://www.consumergroup.com/spike3.jpg http://www.consumergroup.com/spike4.jpg What do you all think is going on here? |
Pictures of problem spike???:
http://www.consumergroup.com/spike.jpg http://www.consumergroup.com/spike2.jpg http://www.consumergroup.com/spike3.jpg http://www.consumergroup.com/spike4.jpg What do you all think is going on here? |
Pictures of problem spike???:
http://www.consumergroup.com/spike.jpg http://www.consumergroup.com/spike2.jpg http://www.consumergroup.com/spike3.jpg http://www.consumergroup.com/spike4.jpg What do you all think is going on here? |
1.) As the spike grew, each leaf on the spike which surrounds the spike
itself has browned and looks deadish. 2.) During the day I see no bugs on the Vanda. Although at night, I have been seeing (each night) one or two decently large green leaf looking bugs which like to hang out on the spike. I have watched them carefully and they hardly move and do not appear to be eating anything or damaging the Vanda. This is the kind of tropical bug which looks like a bright green leaf and just tries to blend in. Not sure how dangerous this bug is for the orchid. |
Perhaps it's my monitor, but that spike looks "blasted" to me. Bud blast
has many possible causes: extreme temperatures [over 100F, under 50F]; extreme temperature changes [a 20 or more degree shift] over a short time period; shipping in fat bud; low humidity; underwatering; thrips ... etc. To check for thrips, exhale on the biggest bud and then look to see if any little black specks start jumping around; also examine the roots of the plant. Provided that you are watering every day [which assumes that the plant is not potted in medium], I don't think once a week is too often to feed, with a dilute solution [1/2 of label recommendation], but I would urge you to go to a more balanced formula. The "bloom-booster" formulas do not provide enough nitrogen for good long-term growth, when used all the time. At this point, I don't see any sense in rushing to cut the spike -- it might in fact be my monitor making it look blasted, since it looks good to Sue; or even if it is, you might still get a couple of flowers. Good luck! -- Kenni Judd Juno Beach Orchids http://www.jborchids.com wrote in message oups.com... I have a 7 year old Vanda that I recently purchased. Over the past month or so a beautiful long spike has appeared. At the end of the spike are about 4-5 nodules which look like they could turn into flowers. The spike is now turning a bit yellow near the last third of the spike. The little 4-5 nodules / buds seem like they are turning a bit brownish with a bit of a darker color inside them (could be the flower). I have never done this before. Is the spike supposed to do this or is there a major problem going on where the spike is dying before the flowers have even erupted / bloomed? I have watered it every day and fertilized with an orchid bloom fertilizer about 1/week. Any advice would be helpful. I will see if I can post a picture sooon. I hope this can be saved. I would like to succeed in getting an orchid to bloom finally. |
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