Question
Hi,

My oncidium orchid flowers always faded.  But it faded away in less than 2 weeks since I got it from store, so I started getting suspicious.

Today, I saw a lot of pest on the spike and on the flowers.  (The small yellow tiny type of pest, not sure how they got onto my orchid)

I only have 3 flowers on the oncidium orchid.  
First of all, how can I get rid of those pest?
Secondly, should I cut down the spike and wait for next year blooming.  How should I do to prepare it for next blooming?

Thank you
Eileen  

Answer
Hi again Eileen,

I believe I answered your question about the tiny yellow bugs on a previous question, so I'll go on to the rest of this question.  As for how thrips got onto your oncidium, there are many ways they can do that.  But, the most common way is for them to travel via the orchid leaf highway, going from leaf to leaf, orchid to orchid.  In most stores, nurseries, garden centers and hobbyist growing areas, plants are very close together, making it easy for pests to travel the orchid highway.  

With the amount of damage already done to the flowers, you probably should cut the spike off and treat the plant as I suggested earlier.  One thing I believe I did not mention earlier is that you should treat the oncidium three times about a week apart to make sure you kill off any eggs that hatch after the first and second treatment.  

Once you've finished with the treatments, place the oncidium where it will get bright light until about 10 AM, in mid to late autumn move it into more direct sunlight as the winter sun is not as bright or hot as it is in summer.  Ideally, the oncidium leaves should be a light to medium green color when getting proper sunlight.  Temperatures in winter can be between 50 to 75 F, maybe even down to 45 F for several weeks in late autumn to help initiate the next bloom cycle.  Humidity should be above 30% but 50% is better.  Air movement around it is important so place it where it will be exposed to some movement.  There is not a need to water as often in winter with cooler temperatures and shorter days.  Water when the potting mix becomes barely moist, this can be from every 5 days to upwards of 2 weeks or more depending on the light, temperature and air movement where it is growing.  

Hope this helped.  Good luck and good growing.

Jim