Incipient Laelia anceps disaster?

[D_novice]

This L anceps lineata bud/inflorescence was normal and straight a week ago, and began to bend, and the angle is getting more acute by the hour, it seems.

I think there's a larval bug in there, but that's just a guess. Otherwise this is a healthy-looking plant.






Below is a detail of a bud-inflorescence junction on a glorious four spike enormous Mendenhall, and I'm worried the same thing is about to happen.
I have dozens of anceps in bud right now, and I fear for all of them.
Short of dousing them with some systemic insecticide, I'm not sure what can be done (plus, the insect part is a guess).





Thoughts? Prayers?

[JScott]

I think maybe the bracts covering the bud are stuck together where they overlap, which is causing it to bend as the spike grows with the tip stuck. Can you separate or maybe even carefully cut the bract at the angle to release the tension and let the spike continue to elongate?

I have no idea why that would happen, though.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by JScott

I think maybe the bracts covering the bud are stuck together where they overlap, which is causing it to bend as the spike grows with the tip stuck. Can you separate or maybe even carefully cut the bract at the angle to release the tension and let the spike continue to elongate?

I have no idea why that would happen, though.

Very possible,worth a try. Or, sometimes an incipient spike just stops growing for no reason I can see. And the next year the plant is fine.

[D_novice]

It has been very hot here for about the past month and a half, maybe that has made their usual sticky secretions even more so. That said, I mist them multiple times every day, but that is more directed to the pot or the mount, and the leaves, and I probably barely get the buds wet.

When it first started happening, I did wonder if perhaps the bract was pulling it down, and I thought about trying to loosen it but then worried I might mess it up, and then when I saw it start to go crooked so fast, I forgot about that. I think I'll try misting the bud directly, and maybe with a trace of dish soap as a solvent, kind of like what you do to get the buds to open / separate.

If that is the problem it would be a huge relief, compared to an insect.

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[estación seca]

It's been pretty hot and dry, hasn't it? Are you sure you're keeping up with watering?

[D_novice]

Spraying them with water with a little added dish soap and rubbing alcohol, and within an hour the bud was straight - after being at a 90 degree angle. Amazing!

Obviously, you can't judge an orchidist by their number of posts JScott has only 15 but solved my problem. Thanks a million.

[fishmom]

Wow, I'll have to remember this trick!

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by D_novice

Obviously, you can't judge an orchidist by their number of posts JScott has only 15 but solved my problem. Thanks a million.

Probably he noticed that when treating a spider mite infestation in a plant in bud.
Experience, experience...

[JScott]

You're welcome! I'm glad I could help. I'm new to this forum, but I'm not new to orchids haha