Brassia Orchid Refuses to Bloom

[starsnrockets81]

Hi all,

I received a Brassia Orchid last June (6/2010) and it had big beautiful blooms then. Three different spikes. After about a month, the blooms fell off and spikes dried up. Since then, I've cut off the old spikes and repotted the plant in March of this year (3/2011). It has been sitting in a northeastern-facing window with medium-low light since I received it. The leaves are bright green and the plant has been growing a lot, but it refuses to grow a new flower spike! What can I do to encourage new blooms?

FYI: I water it about once a week and fertilize every other week with a weak mix of some general orchid fertilizer I got at Home Depot. I also mist it every few days with water. The plant is mostly at room temperature, and I live in Massachusetts.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

[Daethen]

I am not a brassia expert, but I wonder if it needs a temp drop at night to trigger blooming? I now have two brassias so I too am interested in this.

[pedidiva]

it may need more light as well as a temp drop.

[orchidsamore]

Brassia do not need a temperature drop but they do require more light.

They can actually do very well in light levels in excess of Cattleya, but a minimum of 2500 foot candles is necessary. I do not have any spot in my home this bright. Most homes are from 800-1500 foot candles.

Yours is certainly not receiving enough light to flower.

[WhiteRabbit]

More light! Generally, if a plant is growing well, but not blooming, I always try to increase the light it receives
Also, the new pbulbs must be in their right stage of growth for spiking - usually this is when the growth is newly, or nearly, matured, and before there is new growth from the recently matured pbulb

[nikv]

If giving it more light doesn't work, then threaten it.

[Vanda lover]

I find that mine really like a lot of light, even as much or more than catts do. They often will bloom in fall or winter, so don't give up hope, but increase the light gradually. At this time of year it should be pretty saft to have it in strong light.