Continual &/or Sequential Blooming Orchids

[Paul Mc]

Are there any orchids that are known for being either continual or sequential bloomers thoughout the year? I am not necessarily talking about holding their blooms for a long time, more along the lines of having blooms consistently throughout the year.

I'm just curious if anyone knows of any such orchids, or if they even exist.

I believe one of them is in the Oncidium Alliance, the Psychopsis Mendenhall Hildos (which I bought just for that reason, lol...). My understanding of it is that once this orchid is mature, it will sequentially bloom throughought the year for many years although the bloom itself may only last for about 10 days or so.

[tuvoc]

There are a few Phal species that can bloom sequentially for a very long time. My tetraspis just keeps going, and going.

Kim

[camille1585]

Yes, Psychopsis is one of them. Paph Pinocchio is also a sequential bloomer that stays in bloom quite a long time if cared for correctly (at least a year I think). A well cared for Haraella odorata can keep putting out one spike after another until it sometimes blooms itself to death.

In the phals, some sequential bloomers that bloom for a long time are violacia, amboninsis and cornu-cervi for example, but I don't know exactly how long they last.

I have a Noid Phal which has been sequencially blooming (and putting out new spikes) for the last 2 years. Unfortunately I only have the commerical name for it, and the grower will not give me the real name of the cross.

[Duane McDowell]

Paul,
I see a terrarium in your future... Most lepanthes, all restrepias,and many masdevallias and other pleurothallds fit that description.

[Call_Me_Bob]

I read about a phal, I think it was Cornu-cervi, that has super long spikes ( brcause they kept booking and growing). But it had at least one bloom at all times for at least 3yrs.

[Paul Mc]

I am attempting to steer away from the phal's as I have a lot in my collection (albeit small in comparison to some people's).

You are right that I might be heading toward a terrarium soon, lol... Sad thing is that I gave an 80 gallon fish tank that could have been converted away about 6 years ago. Think how many orchids I could have put in that sucker, lol...

[quiltergal]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

I am attempting to steer away from the phal's as I have a lot in my collection (albeit small in comparison to some people's).

Ahh....but species Phals are entirely different than hybrid Phals.

[got ants]

I have an Oncidium "Sweet Sugar" that always has flowers on it. Even before the old flowers drop off, another spike is pushing up. Currently I have two older spikes dropping flowers, a third spike in full bloom, and a new fourth spike pushing up.

[Paul Mc]

Quiltergal, could you please explain the difference to me? Now I'm intrigued, lol...

I checked out the Paph Pinocchio and it might just become another addition to my collection. I have one paph already (for maybe 7 months) and still waiting to see if I'm caring for it correctly to get it to bloom.

[quiltergal]

Paul, species Phals just look different. You can still tell they are Phals but IMO and to my eye much they are more interesting looking. Here are a few examples from my own collection.






They are all on the small side so don't take up much space. Some are very good bloomers. Equestris seems to always be in bloom. This year my Phal. mannii is throwing 4 spikes. I have a bunch more that aren't blooming size yet, and a couple that are just now spiking for the first time.

BTW, you can't go wrong with Paph. Pinocchio. I have one that is still blooming from last year's spike that started in Nov. 2009, plus a new spike from this year. It doesn't get more continuous or sequential than that.