Mtdm Bartley Schwarz

[mehitabel]

I had one of these a few years ago, but was not successful with it. I was not able to get it to re-bloom. I do love the scent and am considering getting another

Would someone who's been successful with it give me a gew hints about growing it well?

I'm especially concerned about whether it can take Midwest summer heat, or whether it's a cool-lover. Also any hints about re-blooming?

Thanks in advance

[Danelady]

I have one, but can't give you a lot of advice since I haven't had mine long! I got mine at Trader Joe's about a month ago. It had one spike and a lot of pbulbs. There was no evidence that this one had bloomed before, no cut spikes. It's in the middle of the living room. Not a lot of light. It has a new spike just starting. I don't know if this was a process that was started before I got it or not even though it's just started coming up. I'm also very interested in hearing what others have to say about this one!

[sunshine]

I don't know if this helps you but I found this on line. I can see why you want another. The colors are just so pretty. I'm tempted to put this on my

The Orchid Works

AOS | Oncidium

AOS | Miltonia

[mehitabel]

Thanks for the urls, Sunshine. and they were very helpful-- good culture sheets, and also they reminded me to check out the parents on Wiz

PS it has a nice fragrance

[mehitabel]

I'm bumping this in the hopes of getting a little more information on inducing spikes. A lot of oncids, including Mtdm, produce spikes starting in August, as the nights get cooler and the days get shorter. I'm wondering if this is also true of Mtdm Bartley Schwarz.

I just got one from Odoms, a nice big one, but no spikes, and I'm wondering if I've missed my chance, since it's too cold now for outside nights.

Would appreciate any comments about spiking by anyone who is growing this.

[mayres]

I'm waiting to hear the "magic" answer here......
I also am challenged to re-bloom most anything with oncidium mixed in the gene pool - I suspect for me at least the key is MORE LIGHT, since my main emphasis has been on low to medium light growers and the medium to high light growers more or less have been trying to "fend for themselves"?! I am currently getting a few spikes however from plants that I had outdoors all summer and just brought in about a month ago.......

[mehitabel]

Originally Posted by mayres

I'm waiting to hear the "magic" answer here......
I also am challenged to re-bloom most anything with oncidium mixed in the gene pool - I suspect for me at least the key is MORE LIGHT, since my main emphasis has been on low to medium light growers and the medium to high light growers more or less have been trying to "fend for themselves"?! I am currently getting a few spikes however from plants that I had outdoors all summer and just brought in about a month ago.......

Mayres, what you found with leaving them outside til a month ago exactly conforms to my experience with all sorts of Oncid intergenerics. This included Twinkles, Sharry Baby, dancing ladies, and Mtdm Hawaiian Sunset, Rosy Sunset and various fragrant related Mtdm. The higher light outdoors undoubtedly helps them grow better, so potential for more spikes.

But I don't think that's the only story. I grew them outdoors in summer for at least three years. They always started to set spikes about mid August-- just when the days become noticeably shorter, and the nights start to cool off a little. This was true even when they days stayed hot. The most spikes I ever had with Sharry Baby and Rosy Sunset I left them out til the nights got to 40F for a low. That is only for an hour or two, and they were tight up against a south brick wall, so I'm not recommending a lot of cold.

But long, cool nights! Definitely, for a lot of oncid intergenerics being outdoors at night in early fall helps induce spikes.

That's what I'm afraid of with my new Bartley Schwarz-- that long cool nights are the stimulus and I missed it