Question
Hi Wayne,
I have several orchids in the home - 3 Phalaenopsis, 3 Oncidiums, 2 Brassia Intergeneric, 1 Zygopetalum for a total of nine that are mine.  I am also caring for 3 orchids that I belive to be either intergenerics or Oncidiums that belong to my mother.  They were dying so I took them in.  

The most recent to my orchid collection is the Zygopetalum.  Over the past week, all the flowers started to wilt and today they fell off.  

One of my Oncidiums have re-bloomed once since my husband gave it to me several years ago.  I have only had the other 2 Oncidiums and the 2 intergenerics since the summer of 2006.  

I have been able to successfully re-bloom my Phalaenopsis over and over again since I brought them home.  

Question 1
What would be the best way to ensure re-blooming for the orchids that I have plus for the Paphiopedilum that I intend to get very shortly?  Is cutting back at the node a general rule of thumb?

Question 2
I have noticed some browning on the leaves of the intergenerics, what is the most common cause of this?  Should these browning leaves be cut off or left alone?

Question 3
Do you recommend lamps for these orchids?  If so, what are the best type of lamps to get?

Question 4
What if any books would you recommend for orchid care?

Thank you,
Dominique

Answer
Annual repotting of your orchids in an orchid bark mix is the best way to ensure that they stay healthy.  Always keep a bag or two handy and soak it well before use. Check the roots after unpotting and remove any that are "mushy".  Only repot when new leaves are starting to appear and not during the flowering cycle.

A healthy plant is the first step in assuring reblooming.  The second is to use a high phosphorous fertilizer (bloom booster) just before the normal bloom period begins. The third factor is good light. Since you have had such good success with phalaenopsis orchids, try to duplicate the conditions for your future papahipedilum as it likes phalaenopsis types of conditions. The oncidium intergenerics generally like more light so give them as much light as they can take without burning.  Their leaves should be yellow green. Phalaenopsis will naturally rebloom in their regular bloom cycle as you have discovered. Cutting back their flower spike to a point just above a node might produce another branch on the old spike if that spike remains green.

Answer 2:  Browning leaves on the intergenerics could be one of three things. First, if it occurs only on those leaves at the base of the plant, that could be just natural shedding of the older leaves.  If it occurs on newer growths starting at the tip of the leaves, this could indicate too much fertilization and you need to cut back to 1/4 tsp per gallon of plant food every other week.  If it is occuring on many leaves, this would suggest root rot and the urgent need to repot.  You may remove the browing leaves.  Any changes to correct this problem will not reverse the damage that has already been done but should ensure that new growth will be healthy.

Answer 3:  I grow all of these types of orchids under florescent lights.  You can hang ordinary shop lights (two two bulb 4 foot fixtures) or spend much more and get a more attractive lighting setup.  Keep the intergenerics close to the lights and the phals and paphs can be farther away.  I use cool white florescent bulbs as these are nearly as good as grow lights for a fraction of the cost.

Answer 4:  I have found that there is no one book that is best.  Garden centers often carry a book or two on orchid growing.  Also, try some internet searches.  The Orchid Mall and American Orchid Society web sites can be quite helpful.