I've got a double bloomer

[chefatplay]

As most of you know, I recently received a dose of the orchid doc. Amoung my accquisitions was a Mendenhall 'Giant' (psychopsis). This orchid is supposed to have one flower after another bloom from the top of a very long stalk, 3 feet. My particular plant has two stalks.

The other day, I noticed my flower looked rather well, chaotic, for lack of a better word. Lo and behold, I have a second bloom coming out directly below the current bloom. I inspected the other stalk and the same thing is going to happen there, too. Hmmmmmm???? Is this normal? The little bit I can read about this plant, always refers to a single bloom. Does anyone have any more info for me?

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[fred]

I think you may find more info with the links Ellen

http://www.carterandholmes.com/Merch...Category_Code=

http://www.richmondorchidalliance.com/ROA200601.PDF
page 2

[cupcake]

What beautiful blooms! They obviously are very happy! jUDI

[slippery_biscuit]

You go girl! Yes, they bloom one after the other. How do I know? 'Cause I think I have the twin to your plant, right down to the two stalks! First one bloomed, then it rebloomed, then the other bloomed, now the first is in bloom again, and the second is getting ready to bloom, and the first has a new bud forming below the current bloom.... you get the picture??

Which makes me ask the question, "How long is this going to go on?"

[chefatplay]

Aren't they neat? Thanks to the second thread Fred offered up, I found out they are nicknamed butterfly orchids. I asked my grower the "how long" question and his reply was, don't cut the stalk until you are SURE it is all dried up. I guess they bloom and then wait and bloom and bloom, etc... we'll see, won't we?

How long has yours been blooming, Slippery biscuit?

[slippery_biscuit]

You're in for a long run. I've been enjoying these blooms for about two months now, and no sign of letting up. What a wild looking flower, don't you think? What surprised me the most was the size... top to bottom they have been over 6 inches long.

[slippery_biscuit]

I went up and read those links; they reminded me to let you know that regarding the spikes, the second one on my plant looked as tho it had bloomed previously. A small cut or dried section at the very top. As mentioned after spike number one had bloomed a couple of times, the bud formed slightly below the tip of spike number two. What I'm getting at is even when the bloom stop for us, we should leave the plants alone as they could be resting, and subsequently bloom again on the same spikes. Let them turn brown and dry up, and hopefully this won't happen for a few years!

Jeff

[BlakeeBoo]

are you planning on selfing it

[chefatplay]

I came home tonight to a dried up flower on the spike that had two blooms. The one on top is done and the other is unfurling completely. Spike #2 has it's main bloom just beginning to unfurl. I really enjoy watching this plant. Sort of a fast action orchid. So cool!

I know what you mean about the size! I measured 6 3/4 inches on the bloom that just dried up. The yet to be completely unfurled one is measuring 5 inches so far.

Slippery biscuit, how often do you water yours? I have mine in a north window with no window treatments. The base is on the floor obviously. I noticed my pbulbs were getting wrinkled 3 days after I brought it home. Boy, did it need watering. Mine is planted in sphag. How about yours? I have just put a skewer in it this evening. I have a feeling this plant will need a lot of water.

Does anyone else have this really neat orchid?

[slippery_biscuit]

Mine is planted in what looks like course bark with spag mixed in there. Doesn't make too much sense geven the fine roots, but you know the saying: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. It is growing good, besides all the flowers I've been watching it has sprouted two new leaves to boot!. I do not let it dry out, and treat it like a paph. I'm near Seattle, the plant is on a table in a west window, it gets a couple of hours of sun a day plus the normal indirect light. Not sure about the coming winter.... might have to check into that.

I've been wondering if I would get two simultaneous blooms, but so far they are content to complement each other.

J