Oncidium Twinkle in Spike! How long do I get to wait?

[RandomGemini]

Wow! I've had one of those weeks where things just haven't gone my way. Not that it's been completely bad or anything, just nothing has gone as well as I'd hoped. I ordered some orchids, one of my orchids, the one I was really looking forward to, turned out to be backordered... that kind of stuff. No big deal, but annoying when it all piles up. So I was THRILLED to see spikes on my Oncidium Twinkle this morning.

I just got this plant back in March. It had three spikes then, that were about done blooming. Today, it's got three more! All brand new! One of them is about as long as I think a spike will grow, the other two are about a quarter of the way there.

I wasn't aware that these were prolific bloomers.

How long will I have to wait from this point for blooms? I'd love to have some flowers!

[cbuchman]

Mine usually start to spike about now and my records indicate that they start blooming in late November. So there is a small wait - not as bad as some orchids.

You will see the buds on the inflorescence start to swell and show color (or white) until they open. Mine has a profusion of blooms per spike, so I don't think you will be disappointed . It also smells good - kind of spicy.

[RandomGemini]

I got to enjoy the flowers on mine for a couple of days before they all dropped. I wrote an email to Marc Jacobs telling them to track down one of these and to reproduce the scent for their perfume line.

I'll have the blooms in time for turkey day then, that's something! I wonder if my other oncidiums will start to spike soon then. I would love to have them in flower all over my house at around the same time. I grow my plants in my office on my shelf, when they are in bloom, I set them all around the house in various places so we can all enjoy the flowers.

[cbuchman]

I pull my bloomers into the people part of the house too .

[debrasoon]

Mine are in spike too! Seems like forever. Can't wait.

[Suzanne17]

I have one tiny spike on mine...waiting waiting waiting! It's a pretty young plant.

Aside- when you move your blooming flowers away from the grow space, do you wait till every bud is open? My Brsdm. Fly Away is in bloom on a huge gorgeous spike but there are buds still coming in. If I move it, will I end up with buds trying to reorient to the light?

[cbuchman]

Originally Posted by Suzanne17

I have one tiny spike on mine...waiting waiting waiting! It's a pretty young plant.

Aside- when you move your blooming flowers away from the grow space, do you wait till every bud is open? My Brsdm. Fly Away is in bloom on a huge gorgeous spike but there are buds still coming in. If I move it, will I end up with buds trying to reorient to the light?

Yes. if you re-orient the light,the buds will change their orientation too. I generally wait until the buds are open / about to open before moving indoors.

[judith_arquette]

Yay! Congrats on the spikes! Can't wait to see pics

[NYCorchidman]

I find that twinkles take a long time. I am rather impatient. so take that into consideration.

If your spikes are not branched and you do not see the tiny buds, then I would say about two months.

Yes, small plant, but great bloomer.
Higher light= prolific bloom.
I almost cooked mine in direct afternoon sun, then moved back about a month after when the leaves all started to have yellow cast. Tons of spikes developed.

Enjoy!
I love them. so cute and so fragrant!

[stella3]

Mine is also loaded with spikes, 8!!! the old pseudo bulbs look like hell with yellowing leaves. Should I cut those leaves off? All of the new pseudo bulbs have 2 spikes each. This is the first year mine has bloomed this time. I usually get flowers in early January.