Just got back in town, and have a few questions

[electric.chowder]

I'm back! and most of my orchids are still alive, had a few casulities, and a few that are just barely clinging to life, but hopefully I should be able to revive them. Thanks to everyone for all the babysitter advice they gave!

So now it's getting to that time of year (at least in the northern hemisphere) when our phals start spiking, and I'm pretty sure one of mine has begun (my first spike if it is!) but I'm going to be moving in a little less than a month, shouldn't be to much of a climate change, same zone, still in the mountains, just about 2 hours east, and a little further north. I was wondering if you all think that bud blast will be an issue with the move. I'll be crushed if I finally got one of these things to bloom and then have all the buds fall off also is there anything I could do if it is an issue to help prevent it?

Next question, one of my oncidiums has a new growth that is finally starting to fill out it's pesudobulb, and I was curious as to when and if I will expect to see a spike coming out, and where specifically I should look for the spike.

I have a bunch of pictures of different flowers that were growing from my trip, I will post as soon as I get a chance. Thanks everyone, it's great to be back!

-Chowder

[mayres]

Your phal should not skip a beat when you move. Bud blast occurs PRIMARILY with significant environmental changes - like greenhouse to store to home. Home to home should work fine. Also your phal will not be close to blooming by then anyway.
Spikes come out of one or both sides of the last new growth (pseudobulb) between the pseudobulb and the leaf. See pic below.
mike

[electric.chowder]

Thanks mike!

so about how long will I have to wait (if this is a spike) before the little sucker blooms?

[mayres]

The spike above will not be open and in bloom for probably a month or so. They really try your patience! The anticipation is part of what makes it so "exciting". All these types of plants do not do this, but I have a similar plant (this is actually a colmanara or odontocidium) to the one shown above that bloomed 3-4 months ago on one side and it is about ready to bloom on the other side right now.

[MariahK]

I have one that seems to take 2+ months from start to actually blooming the spikes are huge and take forever to actually open and it is fragrant as well so I really hate the wait!

[Hummer344]

Mayers has it right. When waiting for an orchid to open its flowers, patience is a BIG must. Well worth the wait though. I have a Lalia and it usually spikes in Aug but doesn't open a flower until the first of the year. Foot & finger tapping doesn't work nor does singing or talking to the plant. It will open when it gets good and ready.

[mayres]

I just looked up a plant similar to the spike above in my database to see how long it took to bloom. Noted spike on 8/25/07 and I'm still waiting for a flower to open. It has lots of branches and buds are starting to form, but I'm several weeks away yet from a lot of flowers - so looks like closer to TWO months at least on this variety. One nice thing about the speed of spike development is you get to enjoy each phase of the process - not just enjoying the flowers.