Getting Oncidiums to Bloom

[dougroc]

Is there some sort of trick to getting oncidiums to bloom? I have a couple
Odcdm. Tiger Crow 'Golden Girl' that are exhibiting robust vegetative growth but haven't bloomed in a long time.

I grow under lights in the winter and outdoors in the summer. Do these guys require a cold spell or something? How about a bloom-booster fertilizer?

Any tips would be appreciated.

[gardenguysorchids]

Hi, Grow mine the same as you--underlights in my basement in the winter and under a tree during the summer. I fertilize once every two weeks during spring and summer and then cut back to every two weeks in the winter. I also use super thrive with each watering. I grow mine cool in that my basement is unheated . Winter temps are 55 to 65 degrees. I have had great luck with them blooming for me. I only use bloom booster when i see a spike forming. Once the buds start to develope I stop the bloom booster. If you are having robust vegetative growth there is a chance that you may be feeding them too much. That could be a reason for them not blooming for you. I am far from an expert but have had good luck with my Oncidiums growing them as I have stated. Good Luck!

[orchid-man]

yes there is a little bit of a trick with flowering these inter-generics.
In No particular order
1) they do not like high temps - 25 - 28 degrees C , 77- 82degrees F MAX.(one grower I know has temperature controlled misting 24 hours year round)
2) they also like humidity around the 77 - 85% during growth down to about 60% in the winter.
3) they love food - a fertilizer high in nitrogen all year round,as they are in growth or flower at any time of the year (they will flower three times in 2 years may even be in growth and flower at the same time) .Feed them about 3-4 times per week - this came be done because of the air flow around the plants.
4) air movement - this would be one of the most important - if the foliage is moving then there is enough air movement.
5) Light - here in New Zealand we grow these under 70% shade as we also have very high ultra violet to content with - for you I would say 50% would be enough.This gives me about 20000lux or 1858 foot candles.

[blrnut]

I would also be interested in knowing, as I have a mixed bag with me! 2 of them are in spike for me, but the other 2 are not doing. They have some vegetative growth, but no spikes since the last year or more