Oncidium with short flower spikes

[heatherk]

Have had this orchid for several years, Burr. Jimbo Swarm. It has flowered beautifully several times indoors and outdoors in Northeast Ohio. But this summer she has had two flower spikes not more than 6 inches long!! The spike is covered in buds but what has happened to the long arching spikes??

[WhiteRabbit]

I don't know what may have caused this - I would suspect a cultural issue tho - different temps, light, amount of fertilizer ... ?

Hopefully some other members will have a more definitive answer for you - gl!

[camille1585]

Have you had a look down at the base of the spike along the bulb? Sometimes my Onc spikes get a bit stuck and a few inches worth of spike grow in a zig zag sort of way down there. I have one in bud now that did that (again) and the remaining spike is quite short.

I know that commercial Phal growers encourage the plants to have compact spikes by giving them lots of light, and not to high a temperature in relation to the light.

Or as Sonya says, it could be due to a problem. Are you fertilizing regularily for instance?

[RosieC]

I can't help, but I'm going to move this to the beginner discussion as more people are likely to see it there.