Frustrated by Lack of Blooms: LONG - Orchid Board

shadytrake · #1 09-20-2010, 04:22 PM

I am frustrated with my Oncidiums and Intergeneric Oncidium crosses because I can't seem to coax them to spike.

Here is the background.

-I know they should bloom as I purchased great quality orchids already in bloom.

-I have been successful reblooming 2 of my group, a Wilsonara and Oncidium sphacelatum.

-All of them are in semi hydro which should be an excellent medium for them if I can judge by the massive root systems in the pots.

-All of them get MSU fertilizer weakly every 2 weeks.

Based on this information, I am wondering if I have a problem with light, temperature or humidity OR a combination thereof.

Background.

-All of them are in my shadehouse which gets filtered sunlight from 10am-5pm starting from mid-May through late-September (then I put up the lights).

-All of them received some incredible temperatures this year as summer was pretty hot. We had 3 or 4 weeks where the temp in the shade house did reach in the 90s but not for very long (misting etc for cool down). Evening temps averaging upper 70s or higher with a few dips to the 60s (very few).

-All of them received pretty much just the relative humidity from outside plus the addition of some misting for cool down. Memphis, TN average 81%-85% morning and 57% evening for May-September 2010.

Here is the list of orchids.

Wilsonara Hot Spot - blooms profusely with no issues.
Onc. spacelatum - rebloomed once with a puny spike.
Onc. Ellen Williams (altissimum x spacelatum) - has not rebloomed
Onc. Gold Dust (Twinkle x cheirophorum) - has not rebloomed
Adgm. Summit ‘French Town’ (ODM bictoniense x ADA keiliana) - has not rebloomed
Miltassia Charles M. Fitch (Brassia verrucosa x Miltonia spectabilis) - has not rebloomed
Otobrastonia Skywalker (was Degarmoara) (Miltassia x Otoglossum)- has not rebloomed
Degarmoara Winter Wonderland (Miltassia x Odontoglossom) - rebloomed once but puny.

Any suggestions as to coax these guys to bloom? I have heard that Oncidium intergeneric hybrids are pretty easy to bloom but I am not finding this to be the case.

As FYI I don't seem to be having trouble with Dendrobiums (several types species and hybrids), Encyclia species or Cattleya/Laelia hybrids. I have bloomed and rebloomed many.