Turning polychilos flower spikes around
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Turning polychilos flower spikes around
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  #1  
Old 07-06-2024, 05:34 PM
MateoinLosAngeles MateoinLosAngeles is offline
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Default Turning polychilos flower spikes around

Hey everyone,

I messed up when assembling my grow shelves. I use the Ikea BROR shelves which have removable tops.

I had my lights aligned so the brightest lights would be placed at the front while leaving a gap at the back to direct flower spikes forward. I did alternate warm and cool lights, so one of the strong lights is in the middle of the shelf.

When I moved and placed the top back on the shelves I did it backwards without noticing. Total brain fog moment.

As you see, I have two polychilos orchids with developed spikes. Especially one of them which has three grown spikes, out of which one has been blooming sequentially while the other two have been developing but are yet to bloom. This one is also pushing a new spike in the right direction so worst comes to worst I might get a "cloud" or "crown" arrangement over the plant.

I have turned everything around now but I would like to force the spikes forward, for show.
  • Is it possible that the spikes that haven't bloomed yet might turn slightly forward towards the brightest light now? What about the one that has bloomed? Could the sequentiality make it turn?

    Could cutting the spikes force the plants to grow new spikes in the right direction?

    Should I try to "bonsai" the spikes with some wire to slowly force them forward?

    Should I just accept my fate and have a "butt-blooming" plant?

The plants affected are hybrids.
1) Phal. gigantea x Phal. tetraspis
2) Complex hybrid: Phal. LL Blue Macaw (Phal. lueddemanniana 40%, tetraspis 20%, violacea 20%, bellina 10%, micholitzii 5%, amboinensis 5%)

Attaching photos of the plants and the lights.
Attached Thumbnails
Turning polychilos flower spikes around-img_9524-jpg   Turning polychilos flower spikes around-img_9523-jpg   Turning polychilos flower spikes around-img_9525-jpg  
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  #2  
Old 07-06-2024, 07:27 PM
Dimples Dimples is offline
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Turning polychilos flower spikes around
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I do that intentionally with my phals. for spike management. I use windows, so the spikes grow far too low/flat unless I start them backwards for the first half of the growth (I guess when to turn based on past spike lengths for each plant). Once they get turned around, the spike reorients and makes a gentle curve over the top of the plants. I’d assume it’s the same for the warmer growers. Lighting changes in the wild too. Branches fall, trees grow, they’d have to be able to adapt.
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  #3  
Old 07-06-2024, 07:34 PM
Dimples Dimples is offline
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Turning polychilos flower spikes around
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This is the same plant. The single branching spike was in February of this year. The double arrangement was either ‘22 or ‘23, can’t remember. I love spikes that originate from the back and arch over the plant. Keeps them a bit more compact. Your spikes may ramble more during the turnaround, but I think it’s worth a try.
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Turning polychilos flower spikes around-img_6129-jpg   Turning polychilos flower spikes around-img_6130-jpg  
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