A weak (Den.) spike?

[pikevi]

One of the NOID Dens. I have is spiking but the spike seems very weak. It has new growths and they seem OK. All the Dens. are showing new growth but this is the only one that is spiking.

Is there anything I could do at this stage to have strong blooms or should I just accept it as it is?

Thanks.

I am attaching photos of new growth and spike on the Den.

[kmarch]

It doesn't look weak to me. It looks pretty healthy in my opinion.

[jbigio]

I wish my spikes where that weak

[pikevi]

huh??

I am sorry. This is my first Den spike. After looking at many Den. pictures on the 'net ,it appeared as if this one is very small.

Thanks.

[kmarch]

Some Den spikes are naturally smaller than others but yours looks good sized when compared to the size of your plant.

[Tess1]

Den spikes and also Masdevallia spikes are very thin. Masdevallias are actually even thinner. (Why do we keep on calling them spikes? We should call a spike an inflorencence said she; tongue in cheek).

[pikevi]

Thanks kmarch & Tess1.

That is a good question, Tess1.

I use the word spike since I don't know any better. By looking at the wide variety of flowers on orchids I have no clue when to use bud, floret, floweret, blossom (for vanilla?),spike, inflorescence or bloom

I will be happy to use just flower or inflorescence , which should cover most of the types but may occasionally throw in bud(ding) or spik-e(-ing) , which I think are more descriptive of the process of flowering.

Just a thought.

[kmarch]

Tess, You're correct that the term "spike" is a misnomer. the term "spike" actually does refer to a particulartype of inflorescence which, if I understand correctly, few if any orchids actually poses. It's been a while since I learned all my technical names for plant and flower parts and habits so I do not remember which type our orchids poses. At any rate, the term "inflorescence" is technically more correct.

-K

[Tobi]

Pikevi,
I noticed you have a stake support already in the pot. Correct? This may
come in handy later on depending how long the spike gets and how many
blooms you have. Many of my younger Phal. Dens usually produce anywhere
from 3-5 blooms and they don't need the support. With my older ones which
have been known to grow 2 feet from the base of the spike to the tip of the
last bloom, I always have staked them for support.

[pikevi]

Thanks Tobi.

The stake is barely an inch above the frame of the photo and I am actually looking for one taller than this one. I have many bamboo stakes but they are thick and I hate to push it down the medium.If I can't find a reasonably thin one I will have to think of some other alternative.

2 feet of an inflorescence will be really something . This is the first one for me and I will be happy to even get one flower.

[Tobi]

I use a long piece of durable but bendable wire encased in plastic. That way
I can mold it to the spike and hold it in place. I posted this pic a while back,
but here is one of my maturer Dens. in spike with 14 blooms.

[pikevi]

Thanks, Tobi.

That looks gorgeous!

That is exactly what I need. I will look for it in the building centres.

I appreciate the suggestion.

[Tess1]

This one is for you Kmarch, I see you spell "inflorescence", and I spell "inflorecence". Are both spellings correct?

[kmarch]

According to dictionary.com, my spelling (with the "S") is correct.

[Tess1]

Thanks for that, as I wasn't sure. Inflorescence it is! (I am picky about spellling, it should be correct)

[Orchidflowerchild]

Phalaenanthe Dendrobiums have a raceme, which indicates a simple inflorescence with opposite alternating flowers on individual stalks (pedicels) and no terminal flower (the terminus of the inflorescence is actually a dormant meristem in Dendrobium). Other common inflorescence types in orchids are umbels (simple pedicellate inflorescence with all flowers at apical end arising from one point), panicles (usually racemose panicles; compound, branching (e.g. Oncidium)), and solitary flowers.

Anton is correct. True spikes are not common at all in orchids. Even things that LOOK like spikes are usually just spicate racemes, or something. The difference is that true spikes have flowers that are sessile to the peduncle, whereas orchids have pedicels (individual stalks for each flower on an inflorescence).

-Cj