question

[pretty_bug01]

Ok, I have that NOID oncidium and its starting to bulb out, but it looks like there are more leaves growing on it than the last blooming spike. It was a lowes buy so I don't know if it is supposed to grow more leaves the second time. Is it finallly a mature plant? I know it isn't a spike, it's too thin. What's going on?

[OrchidTraci]

Do you have a picture of the new bulb? Or is it still growing and hasn't quite fattened up yet? It *seems* like new bulbs have more leaves. but there are usually 2 on the top of the bulb, one on each side of the bulb, and some sheaths that can resemble leaves when they are still 'newer' growth. I hope this helps/ makes sense.

PS, check is going out Thursday.

[LJA]

Sounds right on the money to me. The bulb will fatten up in the lower third of that new growth.

Mature growths will also lose their "sheath" leaves beneath the bulb as they age, which may also explain why the new growth looks "leafier" than the old.

If you get some time Jennifer, post a pic...

[pretty_bug01]

hehe...I guess I'm brilliant. It must be the sheaths that I included when I was adding up the leaves. The bulb thingie is thick, by about an inch, but it hasn't made a bulb yet. I'm getting excited. This will be the first time I will rebloom an orchid. I watch them pretty closely so it is taking longer than I would like it too. A watched pot never boils kind of idea. It's the same with the chick. It might be my imagination but the oncidium is growing faster, go figure.

OT, I've been looking in the box thinking that your check has been sent to the wrong addy. Thanks for easing my mind about it. The postal service lets me down so frequently here. The post lady always gets the addresses wrong. I live at 7201 SPRINGER rd. and she sends us 7201 QUAIL WOODS rd. mail all the time. It's starting to be a problem, and it irritates me. We live like 2 blocks from each other but still, it is completely un neccessary. Either way I will let you know that I recieved it and again when I mail it.

[OrchidTraci]

Originally posted by pretty_bug01
hehe...I guess I'm brilliant. It must be the sheaths that I included when I was adding up the leaves. The bulb thingie is thick, by about an inch, but it hasn't made a bulb yet. I'm getting excited. This will be the first time I will rebloom an orchid. I watch them pretty closely so it is taking longer than I would like it too. A watched pot never boils kind of idea. It's the same with the chick. It might be my imagination but the oncidium is growing faster, go figure.

OT, I've been looking in the box thinking that your check has been sent to the wrong addy. Thanks for easing my mind about it. The postal service lets me down so frequently here. The post lady always gets the addresses wrong. I live at 7201 SPRINGER rd. and she sends us 7201 QUAIL WOODS rd. mail all the time. It's starting to be a problem, and it irritates me. We live like 2 blocks from each other but still, it is completely un neccessary. Either way I will let you know that I recieved it and again when I mail it.

Trust me, even over here the postal service is horrible. We won't buy something if it is shipped UPS. Period. 2 out of 2 things we purchased with UPS as the shipment service, it was lost. Also, people 2 streets over are always bringing over our mail. All I have to say is thank goodness we have honest neighbors.

[LJA]

We ship everything by USPS, using Priority Mail, Delivery Confirmation, and Insurance. We haven't had a single thing get lost yet. I think they figure that, with delivery confirmation and insurance, it's probably worth making sure the package gets where it's supposed to go without any screwups....

[pretty_bug01]

I'm going completely off topic from this thread, but what is with people using cinnamin to close wounds when repotting. Ever tried it? Did it work?

[LJA]

Cinnamon is used by many people who want to grow their orchids without using synthetic pesticides or fungicides. It acts, apparently, as a natural fungicide and can be used for fungus infections on leaves as well.

I think when you say "closing wounds" you mean covering the cut rhizomes of orchid plants that have been divided. It's important to cover that cut before you repot the plant to keep fungus from developing on the exposed area and infecting the plant from the consistently damp root zone.

Here, we just use that black tar stuff commonly sold at garden centers as "pruning sealer." When you have a lot of plants to divide, cinnamon can get pretty expensive, but for the home grower, it's something readily available and stocked in most people's kitchens. I've never tried it personally, so can't tell you how effective it is or if it even works at all....

[Paphraguy]

I use cinnamon all the time because I refuse to use any kind of poison in or around my house.

[OrchidTraci]

Originally posted by pretty_bug01
I'm going completely off topic from this thread, but what is with people using cinnamin to close wounds when repotting. Ever tried it? Did it work?

I have ised cinnamen if I have had to cut off part of a leaf. It 'seals' the wound and it works really well.