Odcdm short spike ??

[Vivienne]

Last year, when I purchased my Odcdm. Wild Willie 'Pacific Bingo' it had nice long inflorescences of blooms. While I managed to get him to rebloom (2 inflorescences), 1 of the inflorescences is far shorter than last year and only has 4 blooms on it. What would cause this?

I had a similar experience (shorter than expected spikes) on my Onc. Twinkles.

[jerrymeola]

Oncidium alliance respond differently to a change in conditions.

I buy all my Oncidium from a Hawaiian grower on a mountainside with cooler weather. In general they are 50% larger plants than I could grow from seedling here in Florida heat. Cooler temperatures make for larger plants.

You are now flowering on a different cycle than the original grower. The plant may not have had a full season to regain strength.

Many a time when a plant has an exceptional display of flowers the next year is a disappointment, Again it is a strength issue. The big bloom took a lot out of the plant.

I love Encyclia which bloom once a year around now. My best plants come from the ones that skip a year. The following year they go wild.

You will have years with great blooms and some less so.

[Vivienne]

Thanks Jerry. I figured if I got it to rebloom then I'm doing something right and I'm happy with that. The other spike on the plant (hiding on the right hand side) is shorter than last years but has many branches and buds to open and it is taller than the one that has already bloomed. Boy I hope that made sense. LOL