Length of spikes/size of plants

[Roberta]

What sort of drainage do your containers have? If none, that's going to be a problem. The Cattleya in particular needs to mostly (but not completely) dry out between waterings... it is likely to stay 'way too wet in that container. They are really dominant epiphytes - should be in a much shallower container relative to the plant. The Oncidium actually looks quite good, could yet produce a much longer spike - those can tease you for many months. It is likely just getting started.

[MisterGuy]

Originally Posted by Roberta

What sort of drainage do your containers have? If none, that's going to be a problem. The Cattleya in particular needs to mostly (but not completely) dry out between waterings... it is likely to stay 'way too wet in that container. They are really dominant epiphytes - should be in a much shallower container relative to the plant. The Oncidium actually looks quite good, could yet produce a much longer spike - those can tease you for many months. It is likely just getting started.

Somewhat tough answer, because they are in semi hydro candle jars. In looking at them closely to try to answer in a useful way, the one pictured is only an inch or two above it's reservoir, and has about the same size reservoir as it has medium above it. The other is in a much smaller jar, with twice as much medium as reservoir. Both of them seem to have at least two roots that have made it down to the reservoir, so neither is going to completely dry out ever. I don't let the reservoir dry out intentionally, at least. Looking at them, both seem to be sending out some new roots around the last pseudobulb, so they can't be too too upset.

[Roberta]

Semi-hydro jars are fine... I didn't see the holes in the photos. If putting out roots, they're happy. Semi-hydro helps a lot.

[Ray]

Back to the subject at hand for a moment, it is impossible to generalize about plant sizes and length of spikes.

There are small oncidiums, for example, that have 1/2" pseudobulbs and 6" spikes. Large plants can have 2" or 3" bulbs, or some that are 2" in diameter by 4" or more long. I acquired an Oncidium maculatum once that had an 8' spike.

[MisterGuy]

Originally Posted by Ray

Back to the subject at hand for a moment, it is impossible to generalize about plant sizes and length of spikes.

There are small oncidiums, for example, that have 1/2" pseudobulbs and 6" spikes. Large plants can have 2" or 3" bulbs, or some that are 2" in diameter by 4" or more long. I acquired an Oncidium maculatum once that had an 8' spike.

Thanks!

I suspected that might be the case, but as I've had these plants for a couple years, and they've been subjected to transplant to semi hydro, changes in light and environment, and some minor neglect in that time, it's been tough for me to figure out what's my fault and what they are just doing. Knowing that the semi-hydro transition was going to cost me some time helped a little with the impatience, but I still have never seen most of my plants in bloom.

[MisterGuy]

I took a group shot to compare colors. Definitely not as much difference between the darkest of the Oncidium and the Phals. I'm going to rearrange a little bit and adjust the supplemental winter lighting.

Group Shot