Something's missing...oh yeah FLOWERS!

[shakkai]

If its not light, you might just be giving your orchids too good a life! I have heard of other people's plants (not my own ) having too cushy a life, so they never bothered to flower. Intuitively, this makes some sense, as a plant who can reproduce vegetatively (i.e. all of its requirements are being met exceedlingly well) has no pressure to reproduce sexually. Biologically speaking it is much more 'expensive' to reproduce sexually than vegetatively. So in my mind, there are two reasons why an orchid won't flower, and they are both extremes: either its not getting enough of something that it needs, or its getting more than enough of everything it needs.

Just an alternate thought!

PS. I can't agree with you about the Dens - for me they are some of the best, most carefree, performers!

[Dorothy]

Shannen?
Do you think it's the same with people, too?
.... Nah ....

[shakkai]

I can't say as though I've seen any people vegetatively propagate ... but then, you never know!!

[Dorothy]

[cloudswinger]

That's probably why the whole neglect thing works. Stop babying them.

I've heard of people giving their orange trees a few whacks with a bat when fruit production would be low or nonexistant. They invariably fruited better the next year.

We have tossed an epiphyte(non-orchid) in a bush, and it just keeps growing.

[Kuldking]

Oeh... I have to force myself to leave my orchids alone. I would like to go and nurse them many times a day but I know that they like to be left alone sometimes Of course the other possibility is getting more orchids so you just would not have time to take care of all of them all the time

[Swamper]

I disagree with the Dens being. Maybe like Ross said, it may be only certain types. I have about 6 and they are all doing well outside. This one's been blooming for over a month and still has some on the way.
Maybe I should have started a new thread? This may be borderline hijackin but I dont think so..

[JennS]

Most of my dens to well outdoors too. I lost one deciduous one (not really sure why) before I even had it a couple of months. Other then that they seem to be pretty happy outside. They do not really get more then maybe an hour of morning light and then nothing direct, but still very bright. This year however, I did have a couple of shoots just wither up and die before producing flowers, but that was just this year. I neglected them for quite awhile and left out fertilizing for a couple months or more along with not really watering much, so I figured it was my fault.

I think yours would do well outside (at least the warm growers) and you might want to give it a try for a couple of them. I also agree that maybe a little less attention would be ok. It seems we all want to pick and prod and fix any little discoloration and notice every bump and nubbin, but in nature they do fine without all of our constant attention. I have to stop myself from messing with them too much, and I have seen good results from that so far. Some do need the babying though, but I think it can be overdone....Sorry for babbling!

[Dorothy]

Originally Posted by Kuldking

Oeh... I have to force myself to leave my orchids alone. I would like to go and nurse them many times a day but I know that they like to be left alone sometimes Of course the other possibility is getting more orchids so you just would not have time to take care of all of them all the time

You nurse your orchids?
Any good results from mother's milk?

[orchidexpress]

No doubt about it, you need more light for your orchids!

Happy Growing!