Ripening Psuedobulbs

[elitebettas]

I read a lot of literature on orchids, and found that in one of my books they were talking about "ripening psuedobulbs", not much depth they went into, but I'm assuming this means the time when growth is complete and it flowers?

[kmarch]

Yes, it means the pseudobulb has reached its final stage of plant growth, usually characterized by a fattening up of the pseudobulb. Whether the next stage is flowering or not depends on which kind of orchid you have.

[tom499]

I could probably geta photo of a bulb fattening up on a plant of mine which is doing it now.

uno momento

[tom499]

The new growth starts quite thin, then puts out its own roots. Then the new leaf growth literally just starts swelling up.

[chefatplay]

Once they ripen and bloom, do the bulbs start to wrinkle as the bloom matures and start to wither? My bulbs on the Brassia as doing that even though they are firm and green.

[tom499]

the older bulbs on that plant are very wrinkled indeed, but the leaves are fine.
I give it a good dunking for an hour or so when it needs watering so the bulbs have time to absorb plenty of water, but the older ones always seem to stay wrinkled.

[elitebettas]

Thanks guys, I learn more and more each day, these plants are truly amazing, just glad I finally got the hang of things