Yowza! Spike growth in this heat!

[mehitabel]

We have been having utter heat (mid to high 90/s) steeped in total humidity for several days. Humidity so thick you can hardly breathe the air.

And spikes on the outdoor phals are growing at an astonishing rate. You can actually see the growth that happens from morning to evening, and overnight!

They can sure take a lot more heat with high humidity than they can dry.

For the people who've been having this weather-- are spikes growing like crazy on other orchids besides phals?

[MsMixte]

The Puget Sound area has barely reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the last few weeks, and even though it is officially summer, it has not warmed up much.

However, I decided to move all the cattleya alliance plants, the cymbidiums, and the dendrobiums out onto my deck. They are getting plenty of water (that would be rain!), and indirect bright light.

They are showing an astonishing amount of growth, including three spikes being put out by one of the cymbidiums.

[syndywindy]

It hasn't been quite as warm here as it has been by you, but the humidity and dew points are a bit high and getting higher. But the night time temps are still pretty reasonable, low to mid 60's. I have some phals spiking; mostly species and am wondering when the others are going to start. Maybe the coming heat will help them along. I keep thinking I must be doing something wrong, but the plants are very healthy with either great roots or new root growth. So I hope spikes are around the corner.

[digitalgate]

my weather is in the 90s, they still spike

[lmartiny]

My Phals are finishing up and some Dens, Catts and other things are spiking.

[mehitabel]

Thanks for the replies. I thought this post had landed in the oubliette.

MsMxte, I'm determined not to envy you. It's pantingly hot here. Catts, dends, cymbidiums-- all these should do fine in your cooler weather. They thrive in the bright sunshine, tho. And it's a lot warmer in the sun -- 10-20 degrees hotter. So cool nights and sunny cool days gives you a terrific day/night temperature differential.

Syndy-- nights in the 60's? Sounds like heaven. We've had nights of 75 or so for at least two weeks, and dewpoints in the 70's for good measure. My aluminet shading has been a boon.

I hope you post if your summer bloomers spike over the next two months. I'd like to get an idea of what can be expected to spike this time of year. Last year I had very few spikes set in July and August. The spikes I have now were set in May when the nights were much cooler. I got a lot of spikes then, but fewer in June (phals, of course). Only one or two of my biggest phals are summer bloomers, so some may be too small yet.

D-gate-- good to know that they can still set spikes in the heat.

Lynne, way to go

[tangers40]

*shrug* most of my phals are spiking or blooming in this weather. it hasn't been over 85 or so here, but it gets up to about 80 in the house during the day. 2 of the 3 that bloomed this past winter are now respiking...strange. one is branching its spike, which i found odd since it hasn't branched the other 2 times it bloomed.

no spikes on anything else at the moment, but everything seems to be growing rather well. most of the catts have new growths starting, as well as a couple of the dens.

[zaeem]

I have a problem with summer.Very few on catts,dens,or others.They prefer late summer an dfull autmn.[I]ts hot in direct day sun 93c high humidity,but cooler evenings with humidity.So I have little to be excited right now!!!

[FLBob]

In my environment most of my Phals are coming to the end of their bloom cycle. This is the time of the year that I get most of my leave and root growth. I won't see spikes until late November, when I'll see weeks of day time highs in the mid-70's.

[Brooke]

Bob you need to invest in the summer phals. I have lots of activity at my place on the phal tables.

Brooke

[flutepic15]

I have a spike on a Sharry Baby Oncid that is growing practically an inch a day it seems. The spike's about 3 ft long now, with no sign of stopping. It's only been spiking since early May! I've also got a Doritis that is in double spike and that seems to make progress overnight. Most of my phals however, are finishing their blooming cycles, except for my trusty NOID from the grocery store that's been continuously in bloom since last August, with no sign of stopping. It's also working on its 5th leaf since March! I've never seen anything like that phal, and it was $20 at the grocery store, and a gift from DH for our anniversary last year!

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by mehitabel

Thanks for the replies. I thought this post had landed in the oubliette.


D-gate-- good to know that they can still set spikes in the heat.

Lynne, way to go

for the Phalaenopsis cooler ones will have short spike. Warm growing dendrobium has no problem.