Species Specific Forum : Growing Orchids and Hybrids

[Freyja]

I have a Trudelia cristata aka Vanda cristata and have noticed that in the joints of some of the leaves I have little green nodes starting to appear.
I am pretty sure that these are new flower spikes.

My question though is that these nodes are a lot lower on the plant than the last flower spike I had when I bought it last year at the RHS London show, there are several cut back dead stems in the middle of the plant.

I thought that Vanda's flowered sequentially up the stem as the plant got older so that next years flowers will be higher than last years ones.
Can or do vanda types flower from the same leaf joint more than once?
I cannot find the answer anywhere.

This is my first time at getting the Trudelia to flower and it is very early days yet, I also know it is not a new root, as that grows in a totally different fashion raising a great bulge, pushing and splitting its way out of the plant stem.

Thanks Cat
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So many Orchids, so little time.
Wanted Cymbidium goeringii, other Oriental/Asian Cymbidium.

[admin]

Hi Cat, I've never experienced Vanda flowering from below the previous years spike, but that's not to say it can't happen. My guess would be that it's new growths, especieally if it's two or three leaf nodes below the last flowering. But, like I say, it could be flowers, I think the only sure way is to see how they develop. At this time of year you could say the odds are more in favour of flowers than growth, but the position has the odds in favour of growth.
Not much help I know
Bill.
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Earth is the insane assylum of the Universe.

[Freyja]

Ah, but it has helped Bill,

I hadn't even thought of new growth as I had been told it was a relatively young plant that had only flowered for the first time last year.

I know it's a wait and see, but I thought I would try and find out more info if I could ...

Thanks
Cat
_________________
So many Orchids, so little time.
Wanted Cymbidium goeringii, other Oriental/Asian Cymbidium.

[Freyja]

Just a quick update, 2 of the new growths are most definatley Keiki's as the leaves are starting to shoot out now (must work out how to post the odd picture here)
But higher up it looks as if the other couple of new growths are flower spikes,so as well as the Keiki's I could have flowers
I'm just happy it's growing
_________________
So many Orchids, so little time.
Wanted Cymbidium goeringii, other Oriental/Asian Cymbidium.