What percentage of collection is in flower

[ArronOB]

Hi. I think it would be interesting to know what percentage of our orchid collections are in flower at any one time. Let’s concentrate on the two peak flowering times (I think maybe spring and late autumn).

If you are prepared to answer, can you please indicate what you grow at the alliance level (ie catts, phals, vandas etc) and how (ie inside under lights, outside year round etc).

My interest in this is because I have a collection of mainly about 50 hybrid catts, 40 Oncidium alliance, and a few stragglers from other genera. I grow outside year round. My issue is I am great at growing large healthy green plants, but don’t get many flowers. The only plants that flower reliably are the old-faithful Oncidium types like wildcat, Charles Fitz Izumi and winter wonderland. The main problem I believe is lack of light. Fixing this problem would require some major work - mature trees felled plus excavation of our sloping site, then shadehouses rebuilt. Possible, but I would need to be sure it is worth it. I also wonder if our environment is too cold for the cattleya hybrids.

I need information to decide what to do, so I hope this question is interesting to a wide range of people too.

Cheers
Arron

[Roberta]

I seem to always have something in bloom. There are groups (like L. anceps in fall/winter, Cymbidiums in fall/winter/spring, purpratas now) that bloom in such profusion that I can't properly appreciate the individuals. But I do have a lot ('way too many) plants. Over the years, I have bought plants in bloom (mostly at shows) at different times of year (I live in a great area, I admit), and they happily bloom about the same time every year. I grow about 90% outside all year... a small GH for the few warm-growers that I just had to have. I consider myself extremely blessed to be living in a temperate climate that makes this all possible.

On my website I have identified what I grow outside and what needs the GH. It is amazing what will tolerate winter lows below 40 deg F/4 deg C (and occasionally down close to freezing but usually not for very long, and days do warm up somewhat) Since I think that your climate is not that different from mine, the info may be useful for you.

My shade structures are made of galvanized electrical conduit. The trick is finding a source for the fittings - the home improvement stores don't have them. I found a source at a local swap meet (flea market), a vendor whose main source of customers is other vendors. They can be found online, but shipping can be expensive since they are heavy. It has worked well for me since I don't have any carpentry skills, and also can't lift things that are very heavy. (This little old lady did essentially all the construction)

[JScott]

I think I have about 100 plants, and I always have something in bloom, but how many varies depending on the time of year. Sometimes I just have three or four blooming (so like 4% in bloom) while other times I have like 10 or 15 in bloom (so 10 to 15%). I think it just depends on what you've got, what their flowering season is, and what time of year it is.

[SouthPark]

I think ----- for me --- maybe roughly 100 orchids (not all mature ones) ---- could be a bit more --- maybe 1%.

Some flowers can stay open for ages, such as the phals.

I usually don't have to wait too long if there happen to be a period having no orchids with flowers though.

Some are tricky. As some buds or spikes might stay under the radar (under an orchid leaf - hiding) - which gives a pleasant surprise.

[DirtyCoconuts]

I refuse to count bc I will get in trouble. It’s over 200

I have about 20/30 in flower at any given moment so ~10% with a few time of year where it can jump to 50 ish

All but 15 outside under something except the teretes, schomburgkias, and arachnids

I have a bit of everything. Dendrobium catts vandas leafless genera, epidendrums, encyclia, cymbidium, catasetum lots of bulbos and some Stans milts and oncydiums

If I was smart I would have a log of blooms and know when to up fert and such for the plants but I really just watch and react.

[Shadeflower]

It's a good question but I'd have to ask how old the orchids are...

Seedlings obviously would bring the percentage way down because they won't flower for many years.

What are your temperatures?

[SouthPark]

Certainly the amount of light and lighting duration are aspects to be considered in regard to chances of flowering. This is assuming flowering size orchids.

Earlier, when I mention 1% ----- that was sort of average throughout a year ----- just an estimate. Sometimes, there might be a few/several orchids flowering at one time.

Just sheer numbers, and good growing conditions really boosts those chances of seeing flowers throughout the year.

But - the more orchids we have, the more time we need to look after them all. Watering - I have no problem with.

My biggest threats here are mites - spider mites.

[ArronOB]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

It's a good question but I'd have to ask how old the orchids are...

Seedlings obviously would bring the percentage way down because they won't flower for many years.

What are your temperatures?

Many (or most) I purchased as very small ‘bag babies’ in 2017 and 2018. Others I have had since as far back as the 1990s. Naturally I discounted the very young plants from my expectations.

[Shadeflower]

well I asked about temps because my oncidiums get fairly high amount of light but they are not fussed about temperatures.
It is always said to be a light issue if an orchid doesn't flower but I find it is more a matter that everything should be good, not just lighting and if one thing is off that can be enough to delay flowering.

[Fairorchids]

Let's look at this from a slightly different angle:

Mature, large flowered Cattleya last 2-3 weeks in bloom = 2.5/52 = in bloom 4.8% of the year.

I also have:

• Smaller flowered Cattleya hybrids, which last longer.
• Minis & compacts, which bloom 2 or even 3 times a year.
• Standards, which produce 2 new growths each year, and then bloom first on the earlier growth, and later on the second growth.

Oncid hybrids have blooms lasting about 6 weeks = 11.5% of the year.

Etc.

The variables are then:

• Does each plant bloom reliably every year?
• How many of the plants bloom simultaneously, and at what time of the year?

This will produce some number, which you will need a super computer to crunch.

Having said that, I find that most orchids will do very well under higher light than we normally give them - as long as we increase the watering frequency too. So, yes, you will get better flowering (perhaps trimming the trees will be enough?).