cymbidium - stuck spike

[Hollyhock]

Greetings ~

I am new to orchids. I have a cymbidium which I had in the house and in the fall my son told me that I have to chill it to get it to flower. So I put it in the greenhouse where it was cool for about a month. Then in December I turned the heat off in there so brought it in the house for a few weeks. When I turned the heat back on I put it back in the greenhouse, and even though it must have been thoroughly confused... within a couple of weeks I discovered a flower spike poking out about an inch. After a couple more weeks it didn't seem to be doing anything, so I brought it in the house. I have fertilized it a couple of times. The spike is still just sitting there. It is at least a month since it appeared.

Now of course, I should have been asking questions way back when, but better late than never, I hope. Any advice would be gratefully accepted.

Thank you!
April

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Patience. If the spike is started and still looks healthy, it is just doing what it does. Post up a photo and let us take a look.

Cheers,
BD

[Hollyhock]

Thanks for the encouragement, BD. Guess I am needing some patience to manage to get photos uploaded too! Hopefully it will work this time.





I am also wondering if it needs to be cooler than in the house at this point.

Thanks again.
April

[smartie2000]

Good job.
My standard sized cymbidium I still have to work on (trying to take it outside while our summers are too short)....though my asian cymbidiums bloom fine.

I wouldn't think it need to be cool anymore b/c it is actively growing. Spikes tend to elongate quite fast compared to new pseudobulb. Thats how I can tell a spike from a new pesudobulb.

[Hollyhock]

Oh oh. Maybe it is not a spike after all? I did wonder at first, and decided it was (being a natural optomist )...
April

[smartie2000]

cymbidiums always give me pleasant suprises. They are hard to tell whether its a spike or growth, but suddenly you see an unexpected spike arise. At least they have nice foliage to enjoy. The plant looks very healthy and well kept and it should bloom soon.

[wetfeet101b]

It looks a bit too pointy to be a spike. But then again, it is still too young. Give it a few more weeks and you will see if it is a spike or new pseudobulb.

Overall, the plant is looking great.

[Hollyhock]

Thank you all for your thoughts! Even if it is a pseudobulb, it is growing and I now know better how to treat it. It's all learning!

April

[wetfeet101b]

Thank you all for your thoughts! Even if it is a pseudobulb, it is growing and I now know better how to treat it. It's all learning!

April

For a cymbidium, I would prefer that the plant grow as many pseudobulbs as possible before blooming.
The flowers take up a lot of nutrients from the plant and a 2-3 growth cymbidium tends to produce skinny flowers.