Onc. Heaven scent rebloom!

This is my first rebloom from a newly spiked plant, which makes this exciting!

I have gotten one email asking what was my method for coaxing my H.R. Redolence to spike, and it actually made me scratch my head and laugh before I answered it. The email made me noticed that I did NOTHING SPECIAL!  I provided it with lots and lots of light, watered once a week, and didn't even fertilize once since it was practically dying from what I now believe was root decay. 

The blooms are scented like last year, a very sweet vanilla-chocolate-cakey aroma. The color is a bit different: more bright of a red compared to last years purplish-brick color.

I'm simply delighted :)

Phal. 'Valentine' spike? (edited)

     I am somewhat unsure if this is a spike or root at the moment, but it's starting to show signs of being a spike: mitten 'sectioning', no velum, and much less tender flesh than a new root.  October, November, and December is also "spike season", further solidifying that this may be a spike.

     This will be the first time blooming since purchase and a solid sign that this phal has recovered from its sunburn. 

EDIT:

     One week has passed and I am now 100% sure it is a spike! I have inserted a metal rod and rubber band, ready to steak the spike when the time comes.

Onc. Heaven scent ready to bloom

     Just want to quickly update the status of Oncidium HSR. The two spikes have matured quickly and are ready to start pushing out buds. I have staked them but they seem to curve to the light no matter what.

     The pseudobulb is finally showing itself and seems to be getting a bit plumper as time passes. I'm assuming the somewhat direct light from the new window it is sitting in is making this onc. very happy.

Onc. heaven scent 'redolence' in spike

     Welcome to Rutgers U :)

     Haven't been able to post this update because Im so busy with school. Onc. HSR has put out two bloom spikes about 3 weeks ago and they are still growing strong. Lots and lots of new roots are growing, which is great because the old ones were rather dead to begin with.

     Wonder how many blooms these spikes will produce...

     Please excuse the darkness of the photos. Apartment living on campus proves to have little lighting!

Potting of Keiki 1 and Phal. mommie

     Although Keiki 1 was not necessarily ready to be potted up yet, it needed some source of moisture desperately. I was planning to mount this specific keiki on cork, but I would never be able to keep up with its watering needs to keep it alive. The spike it was growing off of has finally completely dried up.

     After a bit of maturing, I still plan on mounting this plant. For now, lets see where nature takes it.

     Phal "mommie", also in desperate need of water, has finally pushed a root. I also spy yet another leaf ready to poke out of the crown, and it is frustrating the living crap out of me. It has absolutely no energy to waste on a 4th leaf that will just be stunted! (AHHHHH!)
     I took the same approach as the keiki, and just potted it up in hopes of the best. I am really tired of misting, and adjusting, and checking, and disinfecting. Just not worth my time and frustration.

Growth update

     Just a general growth update: Pseudobulbs are growing like crazy!

     L.C. MSxMRS  has put out a tiny new p/b in the back, and one in the front that has sprouted out from nothing to the current size (above) in about 2 days!  The dark, emerald foliage of the cattleya has also become more of a grassy-lime green ever since I installed my makeshift lighting.

     Phal. "Ikea" has also decided to push another leaf from a basal keiki. Nothing too special. The mother plant, which I believe is terminal, is slowly losing its lowermost leaf.

     Finally, D. aggregatum has surprised me with two p/b's, too. The nubbs are both a very dark purple, almost black looking, even though they are well shaded by the older growth. There are many new roots accompanying the p/b's.

New Dend. aggregatum.

    Another 'bag baby' I bought with the addition to my brand new orchid shelving. This is actually my second Dend, but I never introduced the first because of its sickly, uninteresting state. This Dendrobium is a bit different than most; when you think Dend, you think canes. D. aggregatum has stubby pseudobulb-like growths that sustain it. I have read that it is finicky to bloom but can be coaxed by a long winter rest: no water whatsoever, regular strength sun, until the first signs of an inflorescence. The PBs will shrivel a bit but it is a small price to pay when the small, honey-scented sprays of blooms emerge. Pictures online of this Dend are absolutely beautiful.

     My D. aggregatum was (like always with bag babies) potted in heavily decomposed bark. I also always seem to bring small spiders into the house with a purchase of a bag baby; never any other orchid. Nevertheless, I was surprised by the root health. There was a nice handful of freshly grown roots, still with green tips.  I was highly put off by the loads of fertilizer pellets on top of the medium. Repotting was highly necessary, regardless.

     I potted with my usual LECA coconut husk mix back into its old container. I modified the pot by placing extra holes for air and drainage. I am very excited for this plant in my collection and hope to remember about the 'long winter rest' trick for blooming. It is very attractive and healthy, even without blooms.