Plants that bloom multiple times per year

[desertanimal]

I'm a relatively new grower and have only diversified my collection beyond phals over the last 8 months. I seem to be doing ok with keeping cattleyas and Oncidium types growing. But my Burr. Nelly Isler that I bought in bloom has re-bloomed once and is now in spike again! Three times in 6 months for this plant! All the while NOTHING else I have has bloomed. Two phals are spiking now, but finding that Nelly Isler spike 6 inches long the other day made me wonder, "Why don't I keep more plants that bloom multiple times a year?!?" Trick is, I don't know which do and which don't.

I know the antelope dens can bloom a lot once they're happy.

Please allow me to benefit from your growing experience. What do you have in your collection that blooms often? How often? And in what conditions? Hooray for flowers and frequent gratification!

[desertanimal]

Just read elsewhere that AlToronto gets Angraecum didieri to bloom several times a year, so adding it here so I won't forget!

[kindrag23]

there is...O dear lord...I just lost it I know I have at least one of them besides the oncidiums, and antelope den....I may be wrong but there may be a few bulbos that bloom several times.

Great thread to start. btw.

[Leafmite]

That is why I love the Nelly Isler.
Haraella rectrocalla blooms all the time, now. I don't really usually think about it because I grow it mounted on a large piece of lava rock in a little plastic cube for humidity and it doesn't need watered very often (I have water on the bottom of the cube which the rock wicks up.). It is now sending out three new spikes. One of these days, I will have to post a picture of it.

[kindrag23]

Brasovala B. Little Star "Lady of the night" Mine is in bud now for I think at least the second time.
I also think Cymbidium Aliofolium (Warm growing as well) bloom multiple times in large amounts.

---------- Post added at 09:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 PM ----------

Okay my B. Little star is in basically full on light and turns a deep red and re-blooms now, I have it basically bare root in a plastic pot for the time being. with some red lava rock to stabilize it. It is super top heavy, so the need for lava rock. It is now secreting "Happy Juice" a term by other members, this plant apparently shoots this out when it is well happy.

---------- Post added at 09:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:33 PM ----------

My Cym. Aliofolium (SP) is in a lava rock,partial bark/charcoal mix for one and straight rock and moss for the other not an issue yet. Have 3 happily growing growths. and a new leaf as well growing. Again pretty much full light wet but not soaking. etc...

[kindrag23]

Heres my b little star and its happy juice.

[katrina]

Kindrag...the term is....happy sap.

As for plants that bloom more than once a year...off the top of my head these come to mind...
Jumellea comorensis
Bulb plumatum
Bc Lindleyana
Bc Nodata
Some C intermedia will bloom more than once
C sincorana
Bc Yellow Bird (in bloom more than out of bloom if given enough light)
Den ceraula
Den victoria-reginae
Den Mingle's Sapphire (ceraula x vic-reg)
Den hymenanthum (blooms on and off all year)
Den laevifolium
Den rigidum (one big flush but pushes out blooms for a good 6 months)
Pleurothatllis tripterantua
Ionopsis utricularioides
Ceratostylis rubra


There are a lot more out there...if you prefer catts...many hybrid catts will bloom more than once a year. You want to look for those described as blooming on all new growths versus seasonally. If given enough light year round the new growth bloomers are very floriferous.

I don't grow too many anymore but there are a LOT of masdies (masdevallia) that bloom on and off all year long and most are low light plants. The majority of them won't appreciate really warm temps for long periods so they'd like it cooler than the phals but they are lower light. And most are relatively compact.

Just a thought here...8 months is not a long time to have been growing orchids and it's possible the others just haven't had sufficient time to bloom and/or they might not be old enough. BUT...is it possible some of those higher light plants just aren't getting enough light? It's something to consider as your choosing new plants.

[Ray]

There are some plants whose blooming is tied to a natural phenomenon - temperature change, shortening daylength, end of dry season, etc. - and they CAN be manipulated by simulating the natural trigger mechanism, but that can severely weaken a plant, if overdone.

Then there are those that bloom when they are darned good and ready - that is, when they have grown sufficently and built up adequate fuel reserves - and the blooming frequincy for those is closely tied to genetics and quality of culture.

The easiest way to have stuff always in bloom is to buy a large number-, and wide variety of orchids!!!

[desertanimal]

Thanks for the great list, katrina! And thank you for decoding that "blooms on all new growths" phrase. I have seen that, but didn't know that meant it could bloom at different times in the year.

Some of my catts definitely aren't old enough to bloom and I haven't shown that I can bloom a catt. I did summer them outside, and they're growing, but we'll see if I can ever bloom them. I just got a couple to try my hand at them.

My phals are mature because I bought them in bloom and have re-bloomed them--they just seem to be once a year phals. Granted, that can be a long once a year! I'm not in the market to buy anything until it's warm, and I'm not looking to replace anything I have yet, but when I am, I figure why not start only buying things that are known to bloom more than once a year!

[Syrinth]

Psychopsis Papilio, one of my favorites, blooms about every second month for me.

The flower lasts about one month, then it takes another month for the next bud to develop and bloom.

Amazing plant