How do I convince an Oncidium to bloom?

[Hedge]

His bark is worse than his bite?

[nenella]

Originally Posted by Geometry Chris

should i put that rack in the window? do you think my orchids aren't getting enough sun.
ive done more reading on this board than posting, and a recurring theme is "abundant light for blooming." on the contrary, apparently it's easy for the leaves to burn as well... any advice guys?thanks again for the compliments, that rack was a hand me down from my pops (orchid guy too!)

Hi Chris, I agree about much more light.
I have my Oncidiums in a NW window (306° - I just checked with a compass ) anyway just to say that they get a lot of sunshine in the afternoon. They are about 50cms from a window and all are with spikes. About two weeks ago I added another layer of net curtain to the window as they we're getting lighter leaves & few spots on the leaves. The marks have not ' moved' and the buds developping. At the moment I water them 2 to 3 times a week.
In the winter they live in my S window.
Hope this helps.

[Geometry Chris]

hahaha, his bark is toootally worse than his bite.

nenella, thanks for that advise, i have put my onc's in the window which is facing sw roughly, im not sure of the degrees yet. thanks for the advise and kind words... i hope mine spike soon, the brassia flowers are my favorite, besides the phrag/slipper chids.

[DanielBear]

Updating, I tried putting them in the dark for a few days, tried letting them dry out more, quit fertilizing. Kept them outside for 2 months where they got wide temperature swings, now are back inside. Still no blooms! I'll try getting them acclimated to better light next summer! I have a cymbidium in spike, phals in spike, rebloomed dendribium nobile several times.... maybe oncidium are not my thing!

[Izzie]

Hmmm. Oncs. in the crispum section should be blooming now, but I have no idea if yours is in that category.
When they are in bloom, they should not be allowed to dry out.
It may have been mentioned earlier in this thread- but has this plant been disturbed this year? repotting, pests, disease, etc.

[Izzie]

Quoted from AOS monthly checklist for Nov/Dec-

Oncidium crispum Complex

This is the season for plants in Oncidium section crispum from Brazil to shine. Extremely vigorous hybrids come in wide varieties of markings dominated with chestnut and brown and butter yellow. Give plants high light to produce strong upright inflorescences. The pseudobulbs should be plump, so do not let the plants dry out while they are in bloom. Later, plants will enter a dormant period.

[DSDNYC]

All of my Sharry Baby and Twinkle oncidiums are blooming now in east windows in NYC. They are growing in a bathroom window with generous amounts of water and humidity. The onset of shorter days with cooler temps seem to be the trigger. I can almost set clock to when they will bloom.

Just guessing, but I don't think yours need more sun; that may be the problem. Sounds like they are growing like weeds. When they finally bloom you should have a spectacular orchid. Best of luck.

David

[Tommyr]

I leave mine outside well into early fall to get the cool temps. and longer nights. Like a Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus.

[POLKA]

Okay DanielBear
Howdy, and welcome

From experience, They need more light than you get typically in Vancouver thru a window. They grow on about a nine month cycle, and they need good strong light for the whole cycle. Straight oncidiums like light and fertilizer, so slowly, and consistently brighten their light, and keep the fert at about 125 ppm N, which is about 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of the 19-pp-kk stuff you mentioned. Or, just go to Ray's website, and use the fert calculator.

As for the folks above with the brassias in Tennesee, I have had a long tough climb with a Brassia Rex 'Sakata'. I learned thru Glen Barfield at The Orchid Works in Hawaii that sometimes you need to wean blooming size oncidium intergenerics off of their fertilizer diet. I did so to only water for a large many growthed Brassia that never bloomed for 10 years, until this past spring. They got lazy.

Boiled down to---light right, no blooms == give less fert
light not right, get it right, and then tweak the other things.

It is amazing how much light a straight oncidium can take once you slowly get them there.

Take care
Hope I have helped

Rex
AKA POLKA

may all your orchids bloom like crazy