Vanda flower spike

[Jeremy]

On my darwinara charm 'blue star' hcc/aos, I see a flower spike forming. However it is forming really slowly. The entire spike after it grows should be around 4 inches. Do flower spikes in vandas take a long time to form? If so, how long?

[CodiMN]

Hi Jeremy, has this vanda bloomed for you before? How has it been growing for you? Does it seem to be getting enough water? If you could post a that would be cool.

[pheli]

Different vandas have different spikes growing speed. For example, it takes Vanda ustii less than 20 days to form their spikes, while for Vanda teres, it takes 2 months around.
For some Aerides, it may takes more than 2 months.

[D&S Mabel]

My experience is in line with what pheli says.

I have 20 assorted vanda types and mine average about a month from first spike sighting to bloom. The shortest time is about 3 weeks and the longest right at about two months.

Most last at least a month or more in bloom so it's worth the wait.

Good luck!

[Jeremy]

I would expect that it would take 2-3 months since one of its parents, neofinetia falcata, is a really slow grower. There is just one problem that concerns me and it is that every node dries out as the spike grows. Is this typical? What if the node where the flower buds emerge dries, does that cause any harm to the bud?

[cb977]

Every vanda marches to it's own drummer
The problem I have is that I find the spikes when they are very very tiny and by the time they grow out, it seems like I've been waiting forever!
...but they're always worth it

[D&S Mabel]

Jeremy:

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "nodes" when you talk about them drying out. What I might call "nodes" are the part of the spike that actually turn into buds and flowers. Can you post a picture to clarify?

Here are two photos of vandas I have currently in spike, the first shows less mature spikes compared to the second which to me shows what I might call "nodes". Each of those "nodes" will become flowers. Are these the "nodes" you are talking about?

[Jeremy]

My spike actually looks like the first picture except there are no buds yet since the spike is very small. Those are the nodes I am speaking of. The nodes developing right now is not the ones to produce the flower buds yet since it is towards the bottom. If I can fix the problem now then the flowering nodes be safe. However the spike itself is fine but the small covering on the nodes are drying up.

[D&S Mabel]

I think I've got what you are asking now. Hopefully this photo shows a "node" like you are talking about...



There is an older one farther down the spike where the hanger passes by it.

I've always thought of them as more like little leaves. They grow closer to the spike as it grows and expands. Probably not actually leaves or "nodes"... maybe one of our knowledgeable board mates can give us a name of this part (?).

These do dry out on my vandas typically but usually not until flowering has been going on for a few days or longer. Might be that mine stay greener longer because of climate - they are grown outside and either get rained on daily or we water them and it is very humid here for what seems like forever.

Interesting that not every vanda type has these "leaves" - the spike in the second picture I posted on the 29th doesn't but the first one from that post and the other two plants I have in spike now do have them.

[cneos]

In D&S Mabel example, I'd characterize the 'node' as a sheath or pod that protects the group of developing flower buds.
In the very early stages of development, the 'node' is susceptible to damage from all sorts of extremes - too much moisture and not enough air circulation results in rot and too little moisture results in the whole 'pod's' drying out.

The trick is to keep an appropriate balance of temperature, light, humidity and air movement from the time the infloresence first appears until all of the flowers open. Obviously, this can seem to be a herculean feat - some species and hybrids are more tolerant and forgiving than others.

With a little extra tlc, most mermaids will bloom spectacularly.

D&S Mabel, please post a photo when your above examples bloom.

Happy growing!