Odontocidium Sunlight NN in spike
 

I got this one in bloom last spring with about 8 flowers.
It is such a slow grower. The flowers faded by early May. New growth didn't start until late summer (I wonder if it was the heat that this plant didn't like with odontoglossum in its background), and grew during the fall. It matured larger than the previous pb and I was excited about that!

Then I waited and waited for a spike to show up. Mid December, I noticed small black thing between a leaf and pb. I thought it was a dead spike.
I waited a little longer and the black thing grew above the pb shoulder!
It is truly interesting!

I see about eight buds on the spike and two little branching going on.

This plant produce flowers that are scented with wonderful fragrance. can't wait!!!!

Flowers are heavily spotted bronze/dark orange brown with bright yellow lip.

Nice!

Was the spike that colour when you bought it originally? Very interesting colour on that! Can't wait to see the flowers.

Cool,

My Wildcat has similar colour spikes, I think that can be quite normal on Oncidium types with dark flowers.

My Onc. Wildcat has a new spike and it is very reddish brown as are the flowers.

I have one with a spike that's been coming out for at least 2 months, it keeps getting longer and longer, and starting to branch out. The stem is now about 2 1/2' long. It tried to bloom last year (it's 2nd year with me), but unfortunately I brought it in the house and it got overrun with aphids (almost literally overnight) and the spikes aborted, I got to see about one or 2 blooms. This year I'm leaving it outside an nothing seems to be bothering it, it doesn't seem to mind the cold or anything that we're getting here.

Mine has that nearly black color for the spikes as well.

Thanks!

I don't actually remember, but I know it was pretty dark. but that was a year ago and I've been waiting for a spike for soooo long. seeing something black deep in there between a leaf and the pb makes you think something is dead down there.

I'm glad I waited a little longer. I usually don't have much patience. :lol:

That is such a long time for oncidiums. The only oncidium that took a while like that for me was this gigantic Sharry Baby I had. It took almost (but not over) two months before the first flower opened.

Are you sure your plant wasn't already infested with aphids when you brought it in? Aphids are much more common outside than inside. The only thing I've seen that came in on its own was spider mites.
Anyway, the reason I'm asking is because it just sounds hard to believe!
It would take a lot of aphids to cause enough damage like spike aborting in just one day and aphids don't come into a house like a tropical grasshoppers (like the ones that cover the sky and eat up whatever is on their way).
It would have been very upsetting after waiting for so long.

What is your plant??

I've had some that had dark spots on the spikes, but not completely black like this one.
The flowers are brightly colored on this plant.

I think I know which one you're talking about.
I really really couldn't bring myself to even look at wildcat flowers (I just hated any spotted flowers but espcially wildcat). I still don't like them except I began to find "Green Valley" quite attractive, and the dark colored one.

Does yours have dark red brown flowers with hint of white or yellow at the tip? and the lip is brighter red compared to the rest of the flower, right??

I see them every now and then when I go to trader Joes, but they are either too big or have serious spotting and other issues that I'm scared to bring them into the apartment.

How's yours doing?

Lots of the Wildcats have spotted flowers but mine doesn't. Here is a picture. My leaves do have some tiny little spots but some of my Onc. do and others don't and I just think its in their makeup for some to have that tendency. It bloomed about the very same time last year. I really like this one. Based on my notes from last year, this spike will take about 2 months before bloom.

Yeah, yours looks like the dark one I was talking about. It is Wildcat "Bobcat", but the lip is supposed to be brighter red than the rest of the flower. Maybe it's just the picture, or maybe it is individual difference. or it is not bobcat. don't know.

It is Colm Wildcat 'Redcat'. Maybe similar to Bobcat.

First Flower open!
 

One of the happy news this morning was this!

Now a wonderful fragrance will be in the air in just a few days! So tiny, but strongly scented (enough to fill up the room in the midday!)

stunning

This is a very small plant, size of twinkle, yet the individual flower is larger than sharry baby's (and I'm talking about the large sharry, not the smaller red velvet sharry baby), and heavily scented!

The downside, the leaves look virused. :((
will test it soon.

Anywho, on a happier note,
Pictures from this morning.
A few more are opening. They are all facing where the light comes in, so I see the back of them unless I pick the pot up and turn it, which I do when I want to see the front.
The perfume started already, sweet citrusy!

These pictures came out really bright. The lip is deep canary yellow. love it!!!

I love it too! I'll be interested to hear results of the virus test.

Good strong spike. Very well grown.

The newer leaves are quite clean, but the old ones have these (not quite mottled but) lighter streaks here and there along with some really really tiny black specks.
To me, this speaks ORSV, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised as I love this plant. which is also why I kept it instead of dumping it out last year.

I will have to see how the growth will be this year after the bloom fades, but I suspect this one grows quite slowly. but then again, who knows it might start two or more new growths! my wishful thinking. :biggrin:

Anyways, if virus test results come out negative, I will cutt of tiny back bulbs and try propagate. small plants and I would love to have more than one pot of it. If all goes well, I'll let you know too!

Let's keep our fingers crossed!

---------- Post added at 11:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:02 AM ----------

This guy had a long (for me, not so patient) rest last year. After its flowering in late April, I didn't see any new growth starting until mid summer.

I almost dumped it out thinking this is a cool grower, but then the pb won't shrievel, so I kept it. Once it started the new growth, it grew quite fast finishig up the growth in less than three month. then another break until December when I saw the spike, which looked black and made me think it was dead. lol

Now that I went throught one year with this one, I know the pattern.

Yeah, the spike is quite skinny and has quite a few relatively large flowers on it, but no need to stake at all. I like it, less work for me. ha~

Hope the test comes back well for you, the flower is certainly beautiful! I'm finding that in my climate, the really cool climate orchids are the best for my specific conditions. I bought one of my Odont. hybrids in bloom last summer, it immediately grew out a strong new plant, and I just noticed yesterday that it has a new spike out already, which makes it less than a year for a rebloom. This after being outside all winter, surviving effortlessly a solid week of continuous rain, temps in the low 30s several times over a 2-week period in early January. The pbs are so dark green they almost have a blue cast. Whatever it is, it's tough!

Anyway, looking forward to hearing the test results for your orchid. Hope it comes back fine!

My fingers will be crossed for good results on the virus test. Unless almost all my Onc. type are virused, I just feel that these get these spots. I have some Physan now (can't get in Canada) so I am starting to treat my plants with it in the hopes of less of these spots occurring.

Nearly in full bloom!
 

It's been like this for a few days now, just been lazy.
There are two more buds to open.

Last year, it was 7 buds on a spike. This year, the same 7 on the main spike and 5 on two branching spikes.

Orchids age well I guess! :rofl:

I so wish you could smell this flower. It is just soooo good!!!!

I've been waiting about 3 months for one of mine to open. It's been branching out and the buds are separating from the stems now, so hopefully I'll get to see something in a couple of weeks! Congrats on yours!