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For plant health ... removing new spike

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by KellyW, Aug 15, 2016.

  1. Aug 15, 2016 #1
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    One of my Oncidium coloratum plants has reduced vigor due to carrying 3 seed capsules last year. It currently has 3 live pseudobulbs and only one live leaf. It has just initiated a new spike which I want to remove.

    Here is my question ..... If I remove the spike too soon will the plant try to produce another one to replace it and further sap its strength? I'm wondering if I should let it grow a few weeks before removing it? It seems like I should remove it now but I'm hoping someone can speak from experience. Currently the spike is about 3/8 inch (1 cm) tall so it has only been a few days since I was able to tell that it isn't a new growth.
     
  2. Aug 15, 2016 #2
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    Hmmmmm...... A good question, Kelly.

    Part of me thinks that if a plant initiates a flower spike, it must have the resources to do that.

    The other part is concerned that if it is really weakened, it's a last-ditch effort to reproduce before it dies.

    However, does growing 1 cm, and possibly growing 1 cm again use up more energy than growing 2 cm or more all at once? I doubt it.
     
  3. Aug 15, 2016 #3
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Good point, Ray. I don't know the answer.
     
  4. Aug 15, 2016 #4
    rico

    rico Active Member

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    I can't give any suggestions on plant behavior, but I did remove a spike once from an ailing plant. It was a Phalaenopsis I received earlier this year that was dehydrated and had a poor root system, so I cut off the spike. It has started to grow another spike now, but since it has had the summer to grow roots and rehydrate itself this time I will let it bloom.

    Since you said your plant was an Oncidium, does that mean that at the most it could only produce 2 spikes? (One being the one it has now, and the other being what could come from the other side of the pseudobulb). If my assumption is correct and you could only get one more spike at the most, then I'd cut off the spike now and watch the other "node" carefully. If you let the spike grow, (going off of what Ray said) I think the plant would be expending energy growing the spike, and then more energy sustaining the cells it has just grown. I'm not completely sure that even makes sense though, so I would wait to hear what others have to say... Hope you get an answer!
     
  5. Aug 15, 2016 #5
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    My ONcidium coloratum also took a steep dive after holding 2 capsules on a large plant. The plant looked fine until they were approaching maturity. I think the plant will recover, but it set it back years. I haven't noticed any spikes, but if I do I will take them off. Sometimes a stressed plant will send up a spike in a last ditch effort to produce seed before it dies. If it sends up another spike, I would also remove that as well.
     
  6. Aug 15, 2016 #6
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I removed it.
     
  7. Aug 15, 2016 #7
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Rico, that is a reasonable assumption but it really isn't an Oncidium. I am using the outdated name. It is currently Gomesa colorata. I really don't know how many spikes a p'bulb can make in this genus.