Oncidium psychopsis not blooming - Orchid Board

mnh3281 · #1 10-11-2006, 12:09 PM

Hi! I have a quick question. I have an oncidium papilio/psychopsis (I don't have the exact name with me right now), and although it has a flower spike, each time a bud forms, it dries up, doesn't bloom, and continues on it's merry way to another bloom, which fails to flower. Does anyone have any advice as to the reason?

The plant looks healthy and has nice looking roots, but something is wrong. Thanks so much!

Syd · #2 10-30-2006, 10:07 PM

Hi - If you are growing in a greenhouse my first thought it that you might have a small gas leak that makes the flowers not bloom. You might also have too much of a variance in temperature, or a cold fan or hot heater hitting the flower.

justatypn · #3 10-30-2006, 10:19 PM

Bud blast...here's a few causes.

1. low humidity
2. hot air from furnaces or cool, dry air from a/c directly blowing on the orchid
3. over-or -underwatering
4. water standing in the budes or bud sheaths
5. ethylene gas from ripened fruit
6. pollution
7. light that's too bright on the developing flower bud

Tindomul · #4 10-30-2006, 10:37 PM

Gosh, it seems if things aren't just perfect then the plant throws a fit. Talk about a goldielocks complex!

mnh3281 · #5 10-31-2006, 08:00 AM

Thanks for your help! I'd say the goldielocks complex is right! We'll see, I'll try to keep an eye on thing to make sure that conditions are balanced. I just wish I knew where to start!

littlefrog · #6 10-31-2006, 10:19 AM

Add critters to your list of possible problems. Examine the plant (especially the flower bract) carefully for pests. I'm thinking scale or mealy bug... Probably not it, but at least it is easy to check.

mnh3281 · #7 10-31-2006, 10:41 AM

O.K., I will definitely take a look for that. *fingers crossed* I hope it's not scale! That's the worst!!

Wendy · #8 10-31-2006, 03:32 PM

I had the same problem with my Psychopsis. It turned out that the inflorescence was too close to the lights....low humidity and high heat blasted each bud. As soon as i moved it away it started to bloom normally again.

mnh3281 · #9 10-31-2006, 03:38 PM

Did you just leave the previous "blooms" as they were and moderate the conditions or did you have to cut back the stalk and go from there? Thanks for your help!

Ross · #10 10-31-2006, 04:16 PM

FWIW, I move most of my Oncidium class orchids away from the bright sunlight after they have set the spikes. For instance my Bllra Peggy Ruth Carpenter is about to bloom and has two more spikes developing (pictures to come - I am sure!) I normally grow this in full sun in a south window, but have moved it to the back (about 24" away from window) for spike developement. This seems to work for me. BTW the position is about same foot-candles as for Phalenopsis blossoming (500-1000).