Vuyl - a few questions?

[taradale]

I have a Vuyl (two now actually) and it came to me in double spike. One of the spikes was already blooming or just about to bloom when I rec'd it in the mail and that particular spike's flowers have all withered away. The other spike which were just tight buds when I got it is doing great now and blooming away. Thought I'd also mention to help answer my questions is from what I understand Vuyls are a relatively new orchid species created from Odontoglossum × Cochlioda × Miltonia.

My 1st question is what should I do with the spike whose blooms have withered?

Thanks in advance for indulging me - after the double bud fiasco with Paph Freddy and I killed the big bud when I snipped the small withered up bud - I thought I'd better ask about cutting the Vuyl spike.

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The 2nd question is I got a friend of mine who lives in Tampa, FL a Vuyl 2 wks ago and also got another one for myself. Well her's hasn't bloomed yet? Mine has. She put her Vuyl out on her veranda and I told her maybe she should bring it inside because they've had record heat in Tampa in the last two weeks and maybe that's why it's not cooperating. Do you think that was good advice? If not - any other advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Kath-

[jerrymeola]

Normally cutting a dead stem has no effect on a plant. However leaving it on will not hurt the plant if you are frightened.

I still doubt that cutting the first stem on the Paph Freddy was what caused the other to drop.

Heat will normally accelerate the flowering of most orchids. I get blooms much faster on my Hawaiian imports, then the Hawaiian grower gets. Our only disadvantage is that our cooler winter slows growing while Hawaii is a year round 65-80 degrees.

Record heat for Tampa is still not too hot, check in, in a month, when the temperature starts to reach a hundred.

This winter I had flower spikes that took over two months to open.

vuyls. are hybrids that have 2 cool growers in their parentage, and will probably do best in those conditions. in pa. they go outdoors. best of luck with yours.