Finaly my Twinkle in bloom

[Yéri]

Originally Posted by ron-in-norcal

I have one, multiplies like mad, nice bulbs, healthy foliage, but puts out very tiny stems, barely 4" long? What is the best way to grow it? It is a rescue from 2012, though, so maybe it's just recovering? It didn't bloom at all last year.

I'm having kind of the same thing with my Twinkle Fragrant Fantasy at the moment. Okay I know I should be happy it put out 2 flower spikes, but it's barely branching off and doesn't carry more than 15 flowers per spike.

Putting it like this sounds like I'm really nagging, but I've seen the spikes this plant can produce and I'm just wondering if it's a simple matter of more light/flowering fertiliser?

Had the same thing with Red Fantasy, but that one just dropped its flowers as soon as they opened. Megabummer!

[ron-in-norcal]

How frustrating! Mine originally had 3 spikes, but one aborted. So, I know something needs to be done better, just don't know what!

[bballr4567]

Ron, I had one that didn't bloom for a year, now I have an older bulb that sprouted 3 spikes. Mine really likes the hottest spot that gets the most light. Also feed them a lot more than my other genre.

What does yours smell like? Mind is a strange sweet baby powder. My red is awesome.

[ron-in-norcal]

Josh, mine smells very much like vanilla to my nose, maybe with a slight chocolate touch. It's the yellow version. I'll make sure it gets more heat and food this year, I think I gave it enough light since a few leaves got scorched last summer.

[WhiteRabbit]

Ooo! Fabulous!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Gorgeous!

[Orquidia]

Beautiful!!!!!!!

[No-Pro-mwa]

Thanks all.

I wonder if different colors grow differently? Some being more hardy than others. I suppose that wouldn't be so strange.

[ron-in-norcal]

I wondered if the different colors had different needs, too. Would be good to know the specifics if they do.

[NYCorchidman]

Ron, it could be that it suffered from too much light.
When given too much light to a point where the leaves are damaged, it can also affect flowering. I read that plant (not sure if all) may use up energy trying to protect itself from too much sun when exposed to light much stronger than what they "like".

I find for most common orchids like phals and oncidiums (pretty much anything), maximum light just short of burning the leaves give good flowering.

Also, underwatering at crucial times during the plant's growth will result in either no spikes or aborting of spike.

Now that my Heaven Scent is getting too big, I want to replace it with twinkle again.