Oncidium question

[Aniko]

Here is (in the picture) a new pseudo-bulb, fat and bigger than the previous.I expected a spike from it, instead, one other new growth started from its base.
This plant gets a lot of sunshine, plenty of water.
My question is, can I expect a bloom later, or this pseudo-bulb is going to skip spiking ?!

[jerrymeola]

With any orchid you need to learn its flowering season.

Many Oncidium are done for the year here in Florida. Many are fall bloomers and others like the winter.

None partially like the hot summers.

I recommend to all on this forum to learn the blooming season of the plants they buy. If it is in bloom you can usually expect flowers again the next year at the same time give or take 6 weeks.

Moving it from a nursery to a home is a major change. Expect the plant to make whatever change it wants to adapt, and moving its growth and blooming cycle is a common result.

Oncidium are grown commercially cooler and with much more air circulation then is usually available in a home or home greenhouse.

[Aniko]

Since my onc. bloomed last fall, I can hope for new spike at the same period of the year.
Thanks for answering.
(I have air conditioning, so the air is moving continuously)

[janet_a]

can i just say what a nice fat happy looking plant that is?

[Aniko]

Thanks Janet - what do you think: every new psb. is going to bloom next fall, or just the last one?
(May be it's a stupid question - sorry for that)

[arleneg]

Hi Aniko,

So far, my experience is that the new pbulb will be the one to bloom. I have a Miltonia (part of the Oncidium family) that grew two new pbulbs last winter. Both pbulbs have spikes (same time it did last year).

[Aniko]

Arlene, It's my first oncidium, so I wasn't sure that only the very last or all the new pbs will bloom. My miltassia has 3 new growths! I'm really anxious to see them booming...
Thanks
Enjoy yours!

[prisana]

Aniko, Welcome to the world of oncidiums... I , too am new with onciduim alliance . ( Not counting the one I killed when I first started out ), now I have 5 oncidiums that don't look as healthy as yours. We have major winds here in S.FL and they are shriveled as can be. Just wanted to say your onc looks great.

[Aniko]

Hi, Prisana, I'm just figuring out (sometimes by little mistakes) how to deal with oncidiums, it's not easy to stay on the narrow line between wet and too wet.Few days ago I repotted a miltassia in sphagnum moss (from small bark) because one of the new growth was wrinkled.I hope this will help.

Yours in what kind of medium are potted ?

[prisana]

Aniko, Most of my oncs are potted in fine bark mix..(they are seedlings ), I just got them 2 weeks ago, and they haven't been watered that much yet. I have one species onc and I'm contemplating mounting it instead. One mini onc. that's an equitant--that one is fine, it's resting right now, it's in a tiny clay pot with just charcoal and some broken pieces of clay pot. Should I use sphag instead ? I'm just afraid they will drown . My 2 older ones have gotten shriveled in the last few weeks because if the wind.

[Aniko]

Prisana - At first: I'm just an other beginner and I gladly share my experience but I don't dare to offer advise to you.
If, by any chance, you want to change the medium, don't forget that only when a new growth starts rooting it's OK to repot (don't repeat one of my mistakes!!!).
I have my phals also in sphag, and I "got the feeling" of handle it, especially when it's in clear plastic pot.I've never lost a plant.

Seedlings can dry&die easily, so you have to keep on watching them.

Mounting it's very attractive solution, unfortunately doesn't apply in my conditions.In Florida you can do it .

[arleneg]

Aniko,

When I repotted my Miltonia last fall, I used coconut coir and perlite, as an experiment. I can definitely say, my Milt. really likes the potting mix!

A few days ago, I repotted an Oncidioda in a coconut husk chips and perlite mix. I'll let you know how it does in that.

[Aniko]

I forgot to say that I'm experimenting too, I recently repotted my 2 Degarmoara in Schultz orchid mix - bark, charcoal and ceramic nuggets - in ceramic pots.Till now seem to be fine. I really like this mix but is less water retentive than sphag. I'll see after a few months how it works.
.

[prisana]

Aniko, I think I'll repot one of them that's really "shrinky" looking in sphag to see how it does, I'll let you know how it does in a few weeks. Thanks

[Aniko]

I keep my fingers crossed for you, good luck !

[Aniko]

After just about 3 weeks, a spike is growing pretty fast along the new growth.
Does this mean that my oncidium is going to bloom twice/year...???

[DDS2007]

aniko

beautiful looking onc. beautiful foliage. plz provide us with pictures when it blooms

[pikevi]

What a lush growth, Aniko!!. That green is awesome

I hope it flowers for you soon.