It’s Happening ..
It's finally happening .. An orchid plant is finally going to bloom again! This is really exciting, because not long ago. I was sure most of our Phalaenopsis Orchids were going to die. Some of you may remember that I decided to switch media from bark to lava rock and also switch pots from various sorts of clay to glass. This was a huge mistake to say the least.
I am going to have to look back and see but it’s been well over a year since I switched back to bark as the primary media source. The plants have been doing well since then and I’ve lost three total. Little by little they have made a comeback by producing new roots and leaves slowly but surely.
It was recently that I was watering and I noticed a small bud stem starting to push out of the side of one of the orchids plants, just below the leaves. The plants often push out new route shoots, but they look different than the bloom stems. Bloom stems to me, appear like little mittens, rather than being completely rounded off on the tip.
Here’s a close-up, so you can see what I am talking about. Hopefully you can see what I am talking about, that the bloom stem like sort of looks like a little mitten.
This photograph below is a new root beginning to emerge. Comparing the two photos, you may be able to tell the difference between the root shoot and the flower stem.
Why Is This Extra EXTRA Special ??? ..
What makes this new bloom more exciting than originally anticipated .. Is the fact that it is blooming on what we refer to as Peppers Sympathy Orchid. This is a white blooming Phal orchid that was given to us when Pepper passed away three years ago. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long, but thankfully this orchid survived, and is doing well enough now .. happy enough that it feels to start blooming. We can’t wait till the first flowers open.
Now that Christmas is approaching fast, and our Thanksgiving cactus is starting to slow down and drop some of its fresh pink blooms, it will be nice to have something else on its way to Blooming. The blooming cactus can’t last forever and it’s nice having something to look forward to.
I’m keeping a close eye on our other orchids .. To see if there’s any new developments there. One of the Dendrobium Orchids we have is showing some promise but I don’t want to jump the gun and jinx myself. It’s possible that it may also be getting ready to bloom, I’ve been watching it for a while and it appears that one of the buds is beginning to swell. Like I said, I am not 100% sure but I will keep you posted.
OK .. okay. I will give you a sneak peek at that bud that looks like it’s starting to swell on the Dendrobium. If I jinxed myself by showing you this, then it’s my own fault. Lol.
Fingers Crossed!
It's Roots Remain
A Poem By BDMiller
In the garden of our hearts, a memory blooms,
Of Pepper, our fur-baby, gone too soon.
Three years have whispered sorrow's tale,
Yet in the quiet, a white orchid sets sail.
Gifted by friends, its petals hold grace,
A symbol of love in a delicate embrace.
Through tears and time, its roots remain,
In the soil of our souls, healing and pain.
As seasons turn, the orchid stands tall,
A tribute to Pepper, who left pawprints on all.
In the bloom's quiet whispers, we find solace,
A gentle reminder of love's enduring promise.