I have a Dtps Talitha's Gem that believes that it is a leafy plant.

I actually have two plants that are sister plants of one another, and one of
them reblooms like clockwork regularly (already spiking for the third time
since June 2003, when I got it), while the other one just puts out more and
more leaves -- it's got 18 healthy leaves right now, and it looks more like
one of those tall vanda plants than like a Dtps, but the last time it
bloomed was in December 2003 (ok, I know that that's not that long ago, but
it seems like it compared to the other one). I keep wondering whether there
is anything that I can do to persuade this plant, that no, growing new
leaves is not enough.

As far as I can tell I am treating the two sister plants very much alike.
The only difference is that the one that does rebloom regularly is potted in
bark in a plastic pot, whereas the one that fancies itself a leafy plant has
been repotted into sphagnum moss and a clay pot. Al (from whom I bought both
of these plants) told me that these Dtps in his experience don't like
growing in moss, but I (being a great fan of moss) repotted one of them into
moss nonetheless. I did not repot the other one at all yet. This makes me
wonder whether the lack of reflowering could be due to the wrong medium? But
the plant is healthy otherwise, so I don't know. Or could it be that the
disturbance caused by repotting it is what caused it to not flower, when its
season came? In that case, repotting it back into bark might not be a good
idea, right? Or am I just being too impatient and shouldn't be wondering
about the plant not reflowering since December 2003 if that's an acceptable
delay that may not be due to anything in particular?

Joanna (who has been spoiled by almost all of her plants reflowering at
least once a year or even more frequently)

I doubt that repotting 19 months ago would have any impact on its flowering
now.

I don't know that I'd say that the medium, itself, is the cause, but it may
be that the watering and feeding you're doing don't work as well with the
moss as for the other medium.

Or... it could just be that the specific plant is less prone to flowering.
Some seemingly minor genetic differences can have significant impacts on
such things.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:iSQze.1732$ZN6.35@trnddc02...
I have a Dtps Talitha's Gem that believes that it is a leafy plant.

I actually have two plants that are sister plants of one another, and one
of
them reblooms like clockwork regularly (already spiking for the third time
since June 2003, when I got it), while the other one just puts out more
and
more leaves -- it's got 18 healthy leaves right now, and it looks more
like
one of those tall vanda plants than like a Dtps, but the last time it
bloomed was in December 2003 (ok, I know that that's not that long ago,
but
it seems like it compared to the other one). I keep wondering whether
there
is anything that I can do to persuade this plant, that no, growing new
leaves is not enough.

As far as I can tell I am treating the two sister plants very much alike.
The only difference is that the one that does rebloom regularly is potted
in
bark in a plastic pot, whereas the one that fancies itself a leafy plant
has
been repotted into sphagnum moss and a clay pot. Al (from whom I bought
both
of these plants) told me that these Dtps in his experience don't like
growing in moss, but I (being a great fan of moss) repotted one of them
into
moss nonetheless. I did not repot the other one at all yet. This makes me
wonder whether the lack of reflowering could be due to the wrong medium?
But
the plant is healthy otherwise, so I don't know. Or could it be that the
disturbance caused by repotting it is what caused it to not flower, when
its
season came? In that case, repotting it back into bark might not be a good
idea, right? Or am I just being too impatient and shouldn't be wondering
about the plant not reflowering since December 2003 if that's an
acceptable
delay that may not be due to anything in particular?

Joanna (who has been spoiled by almost all of her plants reflowering at
least once a year or even more frequently)