Well, it has been 2 months and I'm almost there with the first bloom opening from this spike! Just FYI about the original post, the one on the right was a spike, the one on the left was a root. So I've only got one spike. The bloom on the opposite side of the spike from this pic has just cracked open slightly. I was hoping this one wouldn't have white blooms because the other orchid I have is white. From the color of the outside of these, is it obvious what color they are? Clearly it's a light cream color, so does that mean I have 2 white orchids now? Although there are some hints of color here and there. I was hoping for more color, but what can you do.

I think chill for us and chill for the plants are two different things sometimes. They like to have a 20 degree drop from daytime temps and nighttime temps. When it's uber-hot, sounds really good to me. I'm glad somebody else has found Osmocote fert. to be useful. I use the Dynamite version (the one in the red package). I just have way too many things going on all at one time to stop and mix up fertilizer everytime I water. The only ones I don't use it on are the Dends.Just remember the more leaves you grow during the summer is a potential for more flowers on the spike next flowering season. Some plants naturally put out more spikes than others,they are just more floriferous.Happy growing. ginnibug

Great idea Bob. I would like to get the stake in the pot so I only have to worry about attaching the spike later. I have done something that I'm not sure is correct, but I couldn't help myself. The spike was growing at about a 50 degree angle and I wanted it to grow more upright. I know it was growing toward the brightest light so Monday, I turned the pot around with the spike pointing away from the light. It seems to have worked. It is making it's turn to a straight up position which is right above the edge of the pot. Should be easier to attach to a stake now. Alan

Thank you all for the responses. This plant is from EOOM. I do not see any old spikes on this plant, but I did count all the leaves on it including all the little ones on the bottom of the plant. Don't know if they really count because they are seedling size leaves. I probably got lucky, being Christmas time. I hope my plant is like Jeanne and branches next year too. I will try to figure out how to put a picture on a website so I can show you my new "baby".