I might have finally done it - 1st earned bloom

I have my fingers crossed for you! I can't wait to see the new ones and when this one blooms we'll all be cheering for you. I'm a newbie pretty much too. I think we stay in that category for a few years...orchids have a way of throwing you a curve-ball every so often. Just when you think you have it all figured out they get you.
Connie

Originally Posted by Bikerdoc5968

Do you think if you can get this to grow a new root and a spike you might deserve a GH??? I think a really BIG GH!!!!

I'm going with spike for sure! Yea! New orchid stand! Maybe it will throw another one on the other side - then two orchid stands. To fill your new GH of course when it puts out a new root, too.
Is this your very first earned bloom or the first on this 'chid?

Tami

It's the very first earned bloom (if it does decide to bloom that is).
I'm pretty sure it's a spike at this point in time.

How does this new growth look today? Any more telling? I'm going to vote for spike too - Usually, if its a root, you can see the velamen start to develop when it is this long, but we'll see! I betcha it grew a little bit last night (plants tend to do their actual physical growth in the dark night hours)...take a look today and see if its any longer?

Well now you have us all hooked! I first earned spike AND the promise of a plant stand. This is like an orchid soap opera--we'll all be with you on pins and needles to see if it is really a spike and then thrill with you as it actually blooms!

So, keep us posted. And truly--spike or root--that means you are doing something right.

Here's an update of the spike on Sunday at 9pm PST on my Dtps. Queen Beer.

I've also added some pics of:
2. Paph Jogjae that's probably going to die but is showing something white that might be a new root;

3. My new Neo growth (first time on my first Neo); and

4. My new growth on the Paph Minnie May x Maudiae 'Clair de Lune' (quite a long lasting flower on this one).

I know you guys are getting sick of my stubs and roots (I know I am) hopefully there is something flowery to show soon...

This is great! That is definitely a spike on the Dtps. Queen Beer - I have that plant too, and that is exactly what it looks like. On the opposite side of that spike, you're getting a new root, so its easy to tell the difference between the two. Have you seen the Queen beer bloom before? You are goign to LOVE it - it has a branching spike habit, its just so lovely - I just posted some pics of mine recently - its really a nice dark magenta color. Here is the link to the posting:

http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...ta-blooms.html

Your plant looks *exactly* like mine...I wonder if we purchased it at the name big box store?

BTW - you could probably trim back some of that rotted stuff on your paph...ya know, clean it up a little and see what's going on down below - those whithered leaves aren't doing anything helpful anyways

Great! Told ya so!

Queen Beer is a great little Phal--love that saturated color!

I bought it when it was in bloom at a local convenience store but the branch had already dried up. The last flower never opened because I dried up that one because of fear of overwatering it. I repotted it when it was in bloom from sphag into wisconsin moss (dries out faster) so that might have terminated the last bud.

The paph is pretty much WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) as the only thing that's left of the roots is the inside wire looking thing. I was told to start praying for this one since it's most likely gone already, but I'm not one to throw in the towel that quickly.

I've just read Becky's Dtps. Queen Beer thread and I'm a little worried now that mine might also be a stress spike. As mentioned before I bought the plant on July 28, 2007 so it was probably time for a spike, however, I've just repotted into S/H on June 24, 2008. The leaves have become a bit floppy but I figured it was because of the roots that were adjusting to the S/H moisture. It also started the new leaf just before it threw up the the spike. What do you guys think? Just I terminate my first possible rebloom to save the plant (if it is indeed a stress spike) or would this be a normal spike as part of the yearly cycle.