orchids without blooming

[caroline]

hi, I have bought many different types of orchids and few of the kinds bloomed but not others. And I don't know why.

[Ray]

The most common reasons that a plant won't rebloom are:

1. Insufficient light.
2. Insufficient nutrition.
3. Incorrect nutrition - specifically, excessive nitrogen levels.

Some other factors include a lack of rest period, lack of day/night temperature variation, or being grown at the wrong temperature range altogether.

If you can tell us what kinds of orchids you're having difficulty with, we might be able to get more specific.

[caroline]

Hi Ray,

I have very many different types of orchids and I don't even know the names of the orchids. I am sure I can find out the names of the orchids I have and I will post it again. Lighting emmm..they are all by the windows: nutrition, I am not sure what I am putting, may be I am killing them. help me!

[Tindomul]

Caroline, you've come to the best place for info. If anyone can help you figure it out, we can. Now, do you have any pictures to share? Many of us can tell you what type of orchids you have on sight alone.

[ScottMcC]

the exact name is not even all that important, although it helps.

the genus name alone will at least guide people in being able to help you.

If you don't know, you can either take a picture of the entire plant and post it here, or you can go to http://www.aos.org/aos/orchids/page01.aspx and look through the sheets for information about basic care of the more commonly available orchids.

[cb977]

Hi Caroline...besides the general care needed to produce blooms, the plant needs to be at a certain size, or time of it's life. If you've got seedlings or NBS (Near blooming size), you won't get blooms because it's just not time for them.
The people here will surely help you through your questions, feel free to ask

[Phantasm]

Most orchids will bloom specific to certain conditions: i.e., season, temperature (lower,higher), moisture, etc.
Most plants will bloom annually if they are grown reasonably well, and they usually bloom at the same time of the year. Others can bloom intermitently throughout the year.

The key is to grow the plants as well as possible, with optimum light, proper growing medium (repot before the mix breaks down), good water, fertilizer and air. Also, being observant to changes in your plants helps, especially with insect problems. Most cultural information is specific to the genera you are growing since they have different requirements. It helps to grow plants that work in your situation.

Also, some plants are just plain difficult to grow and/or bloom.
Find some good books with cultural information and read them a few dozen times and join an orchid society to see how others grow plants.

[caroline]

Hi guys!

I am sending some of the names of the orchids I have and some other, I don't have any idea what they are.

So, it is not necessary to know them by name like ScottMcC said!!! So, how do we know how to take care of it in general?

Oddontocidium
Calanthe Harrishii
Angraecum Viguieri
Psychopsis Papilio
Ondontocidium Violetta Von Holm

[ScottMcC]

if you look at these two links, you can find information on how to take care of those plants:

www.orchidspecies.com (for the species plants)
http://www.aos.org/aos/orchids/page01.aspx (for the hybrids. odontocidium is an oncidium alliance hybrid, and can be treated essentially the same as most oncidiums)

[caroline]

Hi Scott,

I tried to follow the instructions before and I didn't get much response. Most of my orchids, I think, don't get enough light. There is not much light (except in summer) in country where I live (Sweden).