Brassia Orchids not doing well, stopped blooming

[denvervet]

I hope I am in the correct forum, I looked up Brassia on line and it said that it was in the genus of Oncidiums. I have had this orchid about 3 years. I bought it from an orchid Judge here in Denver. It bloomed the first year then stopped. As you can see the leaves are crinkled but they've been that way since I got it. I split this orchid about 2 months ago, it was one of those "do it or die" moments.
This is a Brs. longissima X ochraleura, forgot to mention that! Sorry.
Anyhow, it is in large bark, It gets watered 2 X a week because of very low humidity in Denver its dried out when I water it, I use Miracle Grow Plant Food 2 X a month full strength, I mist it when I water it and its in bright light under a skylight where Plals flourish.
What is wrong with this orchid and why is it not blooming? Should the leaves be crinkled? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.

[reliablefool]

The leaf accordion/crinkle is usually because there is not enough water during the growing phase (I think low humidity can cause it too). Once this happens to the leaves it cannot be undone but future growths can appear normal if the water problem is addressed. I have mine in large bark as well, but I do not like it because it dries out so quickly and Brassia should not be fully dry when watered...I am going to try a medium or small bark the next time I repot.

Since you say it is dry when you water it, I can only suggest you try watering it before it dries out and if that is too much of a hassle try a medium that does not dry as quickly such as a smaller bark. They do not like to be too soggy though so it's a balancing act that I have not mastered either...still slightly accordion leaves on every new growth

[denvervet]

Ok, I will do as you suggested, such a shame, it used to bloom all the time and I enjoyed the flowers so much. I will try the balancing act, I don't like moss or other things like it, I have had bad luck with it, so I will try smaller bark. I didn't know the leaves would not eventually straighten out.

[WhiteRabbit]

Yes, it needs more water (presuming roots didn't die from too much water, which doesn't sound likely).

Fine bark mix or chc mix might be a better media - or just water more often.

I have grown some Onc alliance in medium bark mix, but another down side I found is trying to separate those fine roots from the chunky bark

[bellini girl]

Yep, looks a bit dehydrated. You probably should upgrade the media. I have a few oncidiums and grow them all in SH, semi hydroponics.

[Miss_Cat]

Hi Denvervet,
I concur. Low humidity and figuring watering is really hard for Brassias in the home in Denver. I have to water mine twice a week in winter and more often in summer. It sits on a humidity tray and I mist the exposed roots additionally every so often. I fertilize it at half strength every other watering. It definitely receives stronger light than Phals. and blooms like clockwork in summer and fall with multiple spikes.

It is correct that crinkled leaves stay crinkled unfortunately. Also what's useful to know is that it will take extra time for it to become reestablished and grow new roots after being divided or repotted. At that time some extra humidity should help too.

[LovePhals]

I agree with the others on the humidity issue. I am also not sure about bark for it, if you have ok roots, keep with it, if not- I use Lava rock and charcoal for my Oncidium Hybrids and they all have gangbuster roots. I would try using a humidifier especially when it is putting out new growth as your leaves are the most crinkled I have seen. Mine also crinkle, but since using a humidifier it solves this problem. I try to keep it above 35-40% in winter to stop that from happening. Also water when you see your bulbs starting to shrivel. IF they do it needs a little water.

[Optimist]

Finding the balance is like trying to set the apature of an SLR camera. Bigger pot retains moisture. Smaller pot drys quicker. Smaller medium drys quicker. Softer medium retains moisture. Harder, larger mrdiums drain faster. More ambient humidity is needed either way in a dry climate. Higher humidity and higher air flow are good for orchids. Those little blowerhumidifiers are good investments. They actually are also good for the humans in the house and keeping dust down.

[denvervet]

Originally Posted by Optimist

Finding the balance is like trying to set the apature of an SLR camera. Bigger pot retains moisture. Smaller pot drys quicker. Smaller medium drys quicker. Softer medium retains moisture. Harder, larger mrdiums drain faster. More ambient humidity is needed either way in a dry climate. Higher humidity and higher air flow are good for orchids. Those little blowerhumidifiers are good investments. They actually are also good for the humans in the house and keeping dust down.

Dust you say? Dust? LOL. I had less dust when I lived in midtown Manhattan near the mouth of the Lincoln Tunnel, Port Authority, and just general air pollution! I have never seen dust like we have here in Denver! I dust twice a week, everything, even pictures on the walls and my two dust rags are dirty and full of dust when I am done. I also have to wipe the leaves of my houseplants and orchids or put them in the shower very often (not the orchids). So after I have lived here about 9 years someone tells me that a humidifier will keep the dust down? Why didn't someone tell me sooner? LOL. I had no idea.
With that being said, I put some water to boil in pots on my stove and reclaimed an old humidity tray which I washed and it looks like new and put it under the Brassia's. I will look this weekend for a humidifier. I have no furnace in my condo so I can't add a humidifier to that, I have baseboard hot water heat. I wonder if they make some sort of water containers which hook onto the baseboard, have to check that out. My skin is so dry that when I take a shower no water goes down the drain, its just ABSORBED into my skin! So, I thank you for the advice on the Brassia and humidity keeping down dust. It used to bloom so well and got lots of "ooohs and ahhhs" from friends. I have my grandson's turtles in a 120 gallon tank since they moved out of state, I used to keep the Brassia's on top of that which I just remembered and they bloomed all the time. I have moved the tank and not sure how well the Brassia will do there, it's bright light but not as bright as where the tank used to be, gotta figure out if my digital camera has a light meter. Phew, I wrote a lot!

[Ray]

You've been given a great deal of good advice here, but I think there's more to the story:

Yes, it needs much higher humidity. Yes it definitely needs more water. Yes, finding a balance is tricky.

Forget the humidity tray idea. If your house is as dry as you stated (with a bit of hyperbole), it will be of no benefit in an open room. You'll have to do better than that.

Please be more specific about your fertilizing regimen: what is the formula of the Miracle-Gro? 15-30-15 or 30-10-10? What does "full strength" mean in terms of measurable volume of powder in how much water?