Question
QUESTION: My oncidium never blooms.  When new one is about to mature, immediately new wedge appears and later it again becomes new plant.So, I have more than 5 plants that unflower and instantly producing new plants. I use full strength 20-20-20 twice a week or once a week. In between, I hardly water ( i mean just water)them. What am i doing is correct? Whenever i see my oncidium , I feel very unhappy.

How do i get my flower blooming? Will these plant ( which already have new plantlets but never flower) flower in future?

Thanks in advance,
Nwe lay

ANSWER: As a measure of how well your plant is growing, new pseudobulbs should grow to be as large or larger than the old ones.  If this isn't happening then you need to repot your plant with fresh orchid potting mix in a well drained pot. In addition, oncidiums grow and flower best with fairly high light levels.  If your light levels are too low, your new growth will be weak and your plant will not receive enough light to flower.  Most oncidiums prefer warm temperatures and high light.  I like to gradually introduce mine to full sunlight. Leaves should be a light yellow green to indicate adequate light levels.  If they are a dark green, that is another indication that your plant needs higher light levels.

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QUESTION: Thank you so much.

My new pseudoblubs are as large as their old ones.  But, the leaves are a bit dark green. I already moved 1 month ago to the place where plent of light is available. After one month, the leaves are still a bit dark green.
That place is very hot and getting sunglight from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
So, is it because of just one month to that place or why?
Did I place them in correct place? Do I still have to wait for the leave to turn yellow to bloom?

Thanks in advance
Nwe Lay

ANSWER: Good questions Nwe.  Try not to get the plant too hot.  Above 90 degrees F, photosynthesis stops so you will get no growth or flowering.  If the temperature can get that warm, then try to find a bit cooler place even if that means that it will get a bit less direct sunlight. If possible, you could try to shift the plant to a shady spot in the afternoon when it is warmest.  Other approaches would be to use a fan to cool the leaves or mist the plant to cool the leaves.  Don't expect instant improvement. It is a good sign that the new pseudobulbs are as large as the old. Do you have a name tag in the plant?  Often, the hybrid name can provide clues as to how to grow the plant. While most oncidiums are warm growing, a few prefer cooler conditions. If the plant was in flower last year about this time, then you may have missed its flowering season.  Different oncidiums hybrids flower at different times and a particular hybrid may flower at different times depending upon the growing conditions in that part of the world. Don't give up on the plant.  Try to maintain the temperature below 90 degrees, even if that means a little less light. With the higher light, feed the plant more often and use a higher phosphorous plant food (one where the middle number is higher that the first and last numbers (eg 10-40-20)).   

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QUESTION: Thank you so much for your invaluable answer.

It is Oncidium Boissiense. Can I use 10-40-20 fertilizer as there are new plantlets? Will the mother of these plantlet(haven't bloomed yet)flower ?

Thanks in advance,
Nwe Lay

Answer
Oncidium Boissiense is a primary hybrid between the species forbesii and varicosum.  If you google these species, you should be able to find the conditions under which they grow in Soth America.  Generally they have a seasonal and diurnal variation.  Preferred temperatures are 65-85 degrees F in for summer days, 55-65 degrees for summer nights and slightly cooler during the winter.

Since you have so many immature plantlets, I would use a more blanced fertilizer (eg 20-20-20).  When the new growths harden off, you can go to 10-40-20.  Usually Oncidiums bloom only on new growths so the mother may not bloom.  However, the mother plays a crucial role in the survival and growth of the plantlets since she provides some of their nutrition for growth.