getting an oncidium to rebloom

[josterha]

Hello all,

I am really inexperienced with oncidiums. I know have three separate plants of different varieties that have long since shed all blossoms. I keep waiting for them to rebloom, but no sign of it happening.

Question: will an oncidium rebloom from the same pseudo-bulb? What must I do to get it to bloom again, and how long might it take?

Thanks!
John

[Tsuchibuta]

The only member of oncidium that I of that will sort of do that is Onc. papilio (aka Pyscopsis papilio) and it doesn't bloom off the same bulb but will continue to bloom off the same spike. Normally Oncidiums bloom off of new mature bulbs usually just one spike per bulb but in some cases two. In most cases it's lack of bright light keeping your onc. from blooming. I grow mine in near full sun in the winter (in the greenhouse) and full sun in the morning (full shade after 1pm) outside in the summer and they bloom like crazy.

[josterha]

Unfortunately, I have only northern exposure in Chicago available to me. I use a light table, but maybe the light is not strong enough to prompt new spikes. I'm thinking of just discontiniung my oncidia and concentrating on paphs and phals only.

[MuscleGirl'sHobby]

If you're using lights you should be able to get it to re-bloom. Has it put up new growth yet? I have a couple intergenerics that do great under just the cheaper T12 broad spectrum tubes.

Like Tsuchibuta said, it's not going to bloom again on the old pseudo blub. Do you know if your oncidium is a hybrid or species?

[camille1585]

No, you won't get more blooms from bulbs that have already bloomed. I have a few Oncidium hybrids, and they either bloom from mature or semi mature new bulbs depending on the hybrid. They get a weak dose of fertilizer year round and recieve bright light.

Do you know the names of your oncidiums? Assuming they have new growths and you fertilize them regularily, light might be the problem. What kind of light set up do you have, how far are the plants from the lights?

[josterha]

My oncidiums are all NOIDs from Trader Joe's. They were sold as "mini" oncs. At this point, I have decided to give all of them to my Dad who has a greenhouse. He will be able to take care of them better. I'll just keep my phals and paphs.

[camille1585]

Don't give up yet! Several of us asked you questions to try to help you find out what mght be the problem. Have they been putting out new growths (if yes, are they mature growths?), and what is your light setup?
Depending on your lights you may just need to move the plants closer to them, or increase the hours they are tuned on.

[WhiteRabbit]

my tj's noid onc blooms fantastically every year. 5 or more spikes anually-spring -late fall it is out on patio which receives mostly diffused light all day