What is this, and why can't I get it to bloom?

[Robin the Orchid Lover]

I "rescued" this Orchid from a major grocery chain store two years ago. It was being sold half-dead on a clearance table for $2. It had a flower stem on it when I bought it, but the flowers were pretty much dead already. I can't even remember now what color they were. I've cared for it for the last two years now, and as you can see, it's a happy, healthy plant. It's tripled in size. And yet, I haven't seen it bloom again since I bought it and nursed it back to health. It's the only Orchid I have of this kind, and so I wonder...is there some "trick" to getting these to bloom?

[Swamper]

IS it getting enough light? I think that lack of light is the most often cause for lack of blooms.

[Robin the Orchid Lover]

Originally Posted by Swamper

IS it getting enough light? I think that lack of light is the most often cause for lack of blooms.

It's lived all summer on my back patio, getting very good filtered light. During the winter it lives by a window, so again, it gets good light. My other Orchids bloom with the exact same care...just not this one. I'm at a loss.

[Swamper]

sometimes a couple of inches makes a big difference...I would try giving it more light, the other orchids you speak of may not need as much light as this one. Even if it is the same, try more light just add it gradually.

[Robin the Orchid Lover]

Originally Posted by Swamper

sometimes a couple of inches makes a big difference...I would try giving it more light, the other orchids you speak of may not need as much light as this one. Even if it is the same, try more light just add it gradually.

Thanks. For the last month or so, it's had pretty full sunlight. We took the canopy down on our patio because we had tropical storm winds headed our way when Hanna hit the East Coast, and we haven't put it back up since. So for several weeks now it's had even greater sunlight than usual. So if that's it, maybe it will show signs of blooming soon.

Do you know what kind of Orchid it is?

[RoyalOrchids]

Two years isn't that long. If you bought it as a clearance resucue, the first year is really just ICU. Sometimes they just need to build their energy stores back up, and for rescues that can take a while.

As for what kind - hard to tell, but I'd bet it's a Epidendrum Mable Kanda hybrid. Just a hunch.

[Robin the Orchid Lover]

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Two years isn't that long. If you bought it as a clearance resucue, the first year is really just ICU. Sometimes they just need to build their energy stores back up, and for rescues that can take a while.

As for what kind - hard to tell, but I'd bet it's a Epidendrum Mable Kanda hybrid. Just a hunch.

Thanks! I hadn't considered that. It was extremely ill when I got it.

[Ross]

Wait a minute! Purple leaves? Not enough light? I'd bet this guy is getting all the light he can handle without frying! I'd also bet you'll need a couple years under your grow conditions (don't change anything ) before you see another spike. It just works that way. Most orchids have to aclimate themselves to the new conditions before they will settle in. Some drop leaves, some sulk (no growths or no action) some turn reddish from high light, some just jump right out with a new spike. No way to know for sure, but until this guy has a couple more years with you, I wouldn't worry. ps: I have no clue what kind it is. I am very certain it is getting all the light it can handle, however.

[Robin the Orchid Lover]

Originally Posted by Ross

Wait a minute! Purple leaves? Not enough light? I'd bet this guy is getting all the light he can handle without frying! I'd also bet you'll need a couple years under your grow conditions (don't change anything ) before you see another spike. It just works that way. Most orchids have to aclimate themselves to the new conditions before they will settle in. Some drop leaves, some sulk (no growths or no action) some turn reddish from high light, some just jump right out with a new spike. No way to know for sure, but until this guy has a couple more years with you, I wouldn't worry. ps: I have no clue what kind it is. I am very certain it is getting all the light it can handle, however.

ACK!! Am I burning it?

When I bought the lil gal, she had seriously pale green leaves. About 4 of them. And as I recall, she had a long spike with small white flowers--but I wouldn't swear to it.

Hmmm...well, she'll be moving inside soon. I could go ahead and bring her in now if she's getting too much light. I thought the purple was part of her charm. I'd hate to think I'd burned her!

[Swamper]

Well Im glad Royal and Ross paseed by cause I would have sworn it needed more light