My yellow besseae is in spike again, Yip! Yip! :-dance: Spiked and flowered for the first time last year and the growth is much larger now at about 12" in LS.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze6o1l1/yb.jpg

Lucky you! I had a seedling come into spike last year and just as the buds were visible, I accidentally broke it. This year the same plant started spiking again and i accidentally broke it today!

Lien

:ohmy: your poor yellow bess, sorry to hear that! Don't you just hate accidents like that? I broke my malipoense spike last year by accident, so I know what it feels like. :(

Yes, its the worst! Especially since P. besseae is my favourite species of all time. I'm always so excited when one comes into spike.

Better make sure you don't do what i did and break your malipoense if it spikes this year!!

Yip! Yip! Indeed! Congratulations!

(I admire a man who's not afraid to Yip! Yip! now and then)

Yip! Yip! Indeed! Congratulations!

(I admire a man who's not afraid to Yip! Yip! now and then)

:lol:

Oh! Lucky you w/ new yellow besseae buds! :joy: I'm so jealous! :cheeky:

Lien, that is tragic, sorry to hear of you and your besseaes misfortune! :cry: Hopefully next time around you'll break the cycle. Third time's the charm!

Do these spike off the same growth? I thought you had to grow a new growth to get another spike.

Do these spike off the same growth? I thought you had to grow a new growth to get another spike.

Yes, Eric, you are correct, these spike off the new growths. If you look closely at Pete's photo you will see the older, previously bloomed growth and spike that has been cut in front of the newly matured growth. I had to look again, also, after your message.

Yes, only new mature growths spike and flower once. This new mature growth is larger than the last flowered growth. Today, I actually found a new growth sprouting at the base. :-dance:

Now that i looked closer i see the the old stem.

Today, I actually found a new growth sprouting at the base. :-dance:

That seems to be a sure sign in my experience. Is this a consistant sight to pay attention to? Often I find a sheath/spike and the next week, an old leaf dies off and lo and behold, a new growth has appeared. Especially when it comes to Phrags.

Eric, yes, the older growth with the cut stem is in front of the larger growth in spike. Heather, yes that is so true when it comes to Phrags.

Heather, yes that is so true when it comes to Phrags.

A year in to my addiction, it is good to know I am reading signs correctly with regards to Phrags, and acknowledging consistencies.

Breaking any spikes is totaly traumatic, but breaking a spike on a Malipoense is down right tragic since it was probably developing for almost a year.

In the meantime Peter... make it go faster. I want to see the flower!!

As requested, here is the updated photo and the spike is now branching. The first bud on the spike mysteriously vanished. I may have knocked it off by accident while watering without even realizing it. Thanks for looking!
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze6o1l1/yeb.jpg

Wish my besseaes looked that clean. Is there a picture of the actual flower somewhere?

I have three or four yellow besseaes. Some are re-spiking now. Maybe we should trade pollen.

Here is the flower from the same plant, a first time bloomer last year.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze6o1l1/bessflav.jpg

Peter,
your plant has really grown and looks wonderful. Maybe, since mine is related, it will branch too, the next time it blooms - fingers crossed!

There are three photos from the last blooming, that I know of. The one w/ the water droplets, though the flower wasn't yet fully open, it remains my favorite.

This one?
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze6o1l1/yelbess.jpg

Here is the flower from the same plant, a first time bloomer last year.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze6o1l1/bessflav.jpg

Definitely post a picture on this bloom. Preferrably side by side. It is always interesting to see how much improvement you get with a more mature plant. The new growth certainly looks bigger than the old growth.

I'd say the first bloom was pretty good. Excellent color. Good symmetry. A little rolling on the petal edges, and the petals are held a little high. That is the AOS judge talking. But the besseae lover says 'I'll take it!' I definitely want some pollen...

:D
Mmmm, yep, love it. It looks so demure, and shy, and innocent...I know, I am anthropomorphising. :roll:

My (probable) sibling....
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/ahmcd33/4d543915.jpg