Oncidium twinkle keeps growing but no flower spikes

[RJSquirrel]

oncidium twinkles can take light just the same as a cattleya. they need more water and like to be moist not wet. no rest needed as the new growths when mature will spike if they have received enough light and fertilizer during the growing phase.

my own smallish twinkle has 2 new growths and 4 spikes

[No-Pro-mwa]

My poor Twinkle has bloomed for me every year, even though I was not watering it enough. My house is on the cooler to sometimes colder side like today. Winter storm so below 60 when we got up.

It does get allot of light and now that I am not letting it get bone dry before I water it, this year it is going to put on an even better show than last year. It has 5 new growths and 10 spikes I am very pleased.

But I am wondering if perhaps yours is just going to grow this year because of the re-pot. I seem to remember some one on here saying that Onc. don't like to be re-potted so they sometimes sulk. I very well may be wrong on this.

[POLKA]

Like everyone else, mine is spiking quite nicely.
Most new growths this year are double spiked (one on each side of the new pbulb).

I must say that mine did not always respond this way. It took three growth cycles for it to get used to me. I might be it is getting used to how you water and feed, and the light you provide.

Also, mine tend to bloom once a year.

FWIW

Take care
Rex

[orchidsarefun]

Rex - is yours exposed to cooler temps at any point ? It seems like others are and a cooler temp could thus be a prerequisite for obtaining blooms.

[Optimist]

Another thing is that when you buy a plant that is supposedly blooming size you may need to wait many months before it blooms.repotting usually sets plants back. People here are a bit repot happy. Also, pseudobulbs have formed, but are they mature enough to develop a spike? Orchids grow slowly. They have a specialized breathing system in which they trade fast growth for water retention. You need to have more patience than with other plants.

[cbuchman]

I have a couple of twinkles and have almost lost them when repotting. Thin root Oncidiums don't like to have their roots disturbed.

I have one small Twinkle that I bought in bloom in Feb 2011 that is just now getting back into blooming shape. It hasn't bloomed again since I bought it and I think next year will be its first bloom for me;' but it is growing steadily. Home environments are not the same a commercial greenhouses!

So patience, grasshopper. If it is growing steadily and looks and acts healthy, you will get blooms in time. In the meantime, enjoy each new growth and root as an indication of the beauty still to come.

[POLKA]

Howdy
My twinkle isn't exposed to cold or cool per se.
I have them down on the end of the greenhouse where the wet-wall is. It is the coolest part of the greenhouse. So, that isn't necessarily what is going on with mine.

Since I recieved mine, it has only been bumped up from a 2.5 to a 4 inch pot with as little disturbance as possible.

Just checked it this afternoon.
Five new growths, each double spiked for 10 spikes, and the buds are starting to shape up and swell.

Mind is 'Pink Profusion'

I'll try to remember how to post a picture when it blooms.

Take care, all
Rex

[No-Pro-mwa]

Rex please do post pictures when it blooms. Yours has the same number of spikes that mine does. I will post a picture when mine blooms as well. It is in a 5 1/2 inch pot but I am not sure they will bloom at the same time. They sort of came on at different times. One bulb is getting bigger buds while most of my others are still not swelling.

Then I have the bulb that I thought was only going to have one spike and just noticed it about two weeks ago. Well maybe that means it will be in bloom longer, except I really wanted a big show. Mine is a light pink but it just say's Twinkle.

[NYCorchidman]

How much light is your Oncidium Twinkle getting?
Like any oncidiums in general, these plants need a lot of light to bloom.
Orchids in general, when people have hard time flowering them, it's likely that they are not getting enough light.
Plants will grow and won't bloom if they do not get enough light.

Also, Oncidium Twinkle takes basically takes the same general care as other commonly cultivated oncidums. They may not die from occasional drought, but it is not good for their overall well-being, especially if they are actively growing or developing spikes.

Mine always bloomed around winter time too, and I don't think mine ever flowered more than once a year. They seem to grow quite slow, which was frustrating for a small plant growing that slow.
but the wait was well worth it when I see it covered with numerous flowers that smell so good!

So check your light and see if you can move it somewhere with more light and it should bloom in its next season.

Good luck!

[Gage]

RJSquirrell and NYCorchidman pretty much said it, but I will reiterate. When an otherwise healthy and growing orchid does not bloom, the first thing to think about is light. My Oncidium Twinkle blooms twice every year (fall/spring), as the newest psuedobulbs are maturing. It may also put out one or two little spikes some time before or after the whole plant blooms. I rarely let mine dry out completely. Like most oncidiums, they like to stay consistently moist. But they do like fresh air to the roots, so I pot them in an open but moisture retaining media and water almost every day. Now mine are in a windy location that gets dappled sun, and in the summer, HOT dappled sun. But I water it 3 times a week whether or not it is dry. Fresh water brings fresh air to the roots. Good luck!