Just when you thought it was time to throw in the towel...

[RandomGemini]

The darned thing spikes!

I have some mini phals that I have had for nearly 2 years. I am wanting to thin out my collection of orchids that aren't blooming for me, that I am not 100% in love with. One of them is the Phal that I have been using as my avatar photo on this forum since I joined. I bought it a month after I joined the forum. It had one lonely flower left when I bought it, but I loved it so much that I thought, "Okay. I'll be really motivated to get this one to bloom."

And it grew leaf after leaf. And roots upon roots. And I repotted it when it outgrew its original teensy pot. And it grew some more and a year went by and not even a sign of sign of a spike. And today, just when I think I am going to donate it to charity, the darned thing has been hiding a spike from me for a month or more! It's a teeny little spike. Very thin. We'll see what it does.

The lesson? I'm not sure. Perseverance maybe? Nah... Patience always pays off.

[WhiteRabbit]

Nice! Yeah, I have a very sorry looking Masdie I was just thinking maybe needed to go in the trash, then I spotted a spike, then another, and then another!
This plant just hasn't done well at all for me - it did eek out a flower or two in spring or summer, but since then it's just gotten worse and worse looking.

For otherwise healthly looking plants, I definitely have patience - I have orchids I have had for 4-5 years (and they were BS when I got them!) without getting any flowers, but a couple of those have their first ever spikes now!

[Atzau]

I've got a similar story... Bought a mini phal on clearance about 2 years ago. First mini I ever got and I didn't even know what the flowers looked like! Well, it's sprouted root after root, leaf after leaf and after two years of waiting, it's finally spiked! Can't wait to get a look of the blooms! Just when you're about to give up, they always surprise you!

[RandomGemini]

I love that!! I can't wait to see what yours look like Atzau!

Sonya, if you have some genius with Masdevallias that I don't let me know! I've killed one and have two nearly dead ones. I am going to repot my veitchiana again, in hopes that this will save it, but my hopes for it are not high.

[My Green Pets]

This gives me hope.

I only have one mini-phal, only $0.50 on discount at Lowe's last summer, and it's growing very well, but of course no spikes yet. I bought it after the flowers were gone, so no idea what they will look like.

I suppose it will take its time as yours has...so I will wait patiently for it to bloom again

Gather your strength, little one...

[RandomGemini]

I'm sure it will! I can't wait to see it!

[LovePhals]

Me too. I have a phal that was infested with Mealy bugs and $2 at lowes. I bought it b/c I felt bad for it and although it was very dehydrated it looked like it could recover. 3 years later it is doing great with very good leaves and roots.
No spike. I told the plant this week if it doesn't spike by December it's gone. I have some attachment to it though b/c I worked so hard to save it. Mealy bugs are very hard to get rid of. I just want it to reward me!!

[The Mutant]

I have, sort of, a similar story. Unfortunately mine doesn't involve any spikes...

Anyway, I bought a BS Paph parishii about 1½ years ago. It was a big plant, 5 growths I think, when I got it home but really ugly looking (mechanical damage and suspicious looking spots etc). It had no viable root system either, which wasn't a good thing. I potted it and it grew a lot during that first summer.

The year after was The Year of Great Neglect and the parishii started to diminish. The plant flopped over in its pot due to the roots having rotted off.

I had a repotting spree recently and I was planning on chucking this particular Paph in the bin. If the plants are nice/healthy looking then I won't throw them away, but this one was so darned ugly after three treatments for mites, neglect and all the damage it already had when I got it. I admit, I was going to chuck it for mostly cosmetic reasons (and to free up space).

Well, when I pulled it out of the pot came eye to eye with five, healthy, new and growing roots! I decided there and then to actually try and make sure it survives since it's quite obviously a fighter. This isn't a species that should do well indoors by the way, so it really is something extra.

I have pruned it, repotted it and put it in a nice spot. It has been 8 days since and it has perked up and is growing really well so far. I hope it'll keep it up.

[My Green Pets]

I like that story! Here's a pic of Paph parishii I found through Google image search. Wow. You've got some taste in orchids, girl!

[ddivey36]

I have a Cirrhopetalum Acuminatum that I was ready to toss because it sat unresponsive for a year and finally it sprouted some new growth......