wildcat oncidium spiking twice from one bulb

[thefish1337]

I bought this hybrid at a flower show in early febuary and it had a massive 3' tall spike that lasted over two months before i noticed the lower flowers wilting and then i cut it down. since then the plant has been in active growth growing roots and eventually a new psuedobulb. the media was breaking down so I repotted it last week and to my suprise instead of growing another pseudobulb the same bulb that flowered is sending another spike up opposite of the one it had 3 months ago. Does this mean that that pseudobulb will not propagate another pseudobulb when it is done flowering? I was always under the impression that the pattern is new bulb->maturity->spike->new bulb

[lotis146]

Honestly I'm new to Oncidiums having got my first two (okay 4 if you include the Tolumnias) within the last couple months. Sorry I can't help you with your question, but do you mind me asking you about your care of this plant - watering, light, etc - basically what you've done to make this plant so happy?

Thanks and good job! I just noticed one unhappy looking flower on my 'Peach Cobbler' spike which hasn't been in bloom that long, good job keeping yours in bloom for so long!! (Mine is actually a Wilsonara hybrid, I know they all have different hybrids.)

[thefish1337]

i have this oncidium in medium sized bark with about a handful of sphagnum mixed in it. every week i soak the plant up to the base of the bulbs in a bucket of weakly fertilized water , as the weather gets warmer I will probably continue my weekly soak and augment it with a light midweek watering. i keep my oncidiums in a west window and on warm sunny days i use a sheer or the blinds to reduce the light that the plants get. every 2-3 weeks the plant gets kelpmax and roughly every month i flush the plants with distilled water with some highly diluted physan to keep fungus/bacteria in the media down and to flush out salts. i also spray the leaves with this mixture so as to prevent fungal spots on the new leaves (cant save the old ones). i use a small fan to keep air circulating over my orchids.

[silken]

Oncidiums quite often bloom from both sides of the pseudo bulb, although often at the same time. Once it is done blooming, or maybe even before that, it will put out a new growth if the plant is healthy. Your culture for it sounds good so I am sure it will be fine. Just enjoy the blooms and eventually it will generate a new growth.

[Fairorchids]

In the Oncidium/Miltonia/Odentoglossum group, there is an 'eye' under each basal leaf. Depending upon plant condition (and characteristics of the clone), it can potentially produce either a spike or a new growth from each 'eye'. Most commonly the spikes are more or less simultaneous, but occasionally one will come later.

Here is a photo of an Adaglossum Summit 'French Town' with 3 spkes.

[Daethen]

I have a twinkle that had 3 spikes at once from one bulb.

[RosieC]

One on each side is quite common, though as said they are usually at the same time.

I had a Wildcat which had 2 at a time from one bulb, then 18 months later it produced another spike from the same bulb. I was about to throw it away because it wasn't growing, and gave it a reprieve as a result... then it started growing and several years later it currently is sitting in my living room with around 50 flowers (On two spikes). So glad it gave that surprise of a third spike several years ago

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by thefish1337

i have this oncidium in medium sized bark with about a handful of sphagnum mixed in it. every week i soak the plant up to the base of the bulbs in a bucket of weakly fertilized water , as the weather gets warmer I will probably continue my weekly soak and augment it with a light midweek watering. i keep my oncidiums in a west window and on warm sunny days i use a sheer or the blinds to reduce the light that the plants get. every 2-3 weeks the plant gets kelpmax and roughly every month i flush the plants with distilled water with some highly diluted physan to keep fungus/bacteria in the media down and to flush out salts. i also spray the leaves with this mixture so as to prevent fungal spots on the new leaves (cant save the old ones). i use a small fan to keep air circulating over my orchids.

Wow! Thanks for sharing. Sounds like your plant is very happy with this. Good job!