How long have they been open?

About a month. Is that normal die off for an oncidium? Only one stalk was open when I bought it.

ok, Thank you.

Does your pot drain?

Your plant looks healthy and the blooms are probably finished with their blooms.

Jane

Yes, the pot drains fine. Is that the way oncidium blooms die off? In clumps? This is my first oncidium, so I'm not used to how they die off.

You haven't given us enough information.

How long have you had the plant? How are you growing it...light, temps? Have you repotted the plant? Is it in the original pot? Potting mix?

Its very hard to give advice without the whole picture.

It looks to me that one spike is fading quickly, all at once. Usually that doesn't happen without some change in environment or root problems.

I can't offer a good opinion without getting more information from you.

Jane

I've had it about one month. I haven't repotted it, so I don't know what the potting mix is and it's still in the original pot, which is a plastic pot with holes inside a clay pot which is just decorative, and has no holes, though it looks like it should have a hole. It sits on the kitchen counter which divides the family room and besides the light from a lot of windows, gets light from an LED grow light. I'll take another picture tomorrow of the room. Yes, one spike is fading all at once, or half of it is fading all at once. It doesn't seem right or "normal", but the plant looks ok. That's what made me wonder. The temp in general got cooler lately, and I keep it on the cool side, inside, about 68, but I have a temp gauge on the counter, and I notice that it has read 66 when the thermostat for the heater says 68. The Humidity reads about 32 although a month ago it was in the 20s. I ordered a mister and it's supposed to come tomorrow. That's about all I can tell you.

Here are the pictures of the light in my family room. I think they're getting enough light. Maybe the humidity isn't high enough. Hopefully, when I start misting, that will be enough.

You've only had it for a month. Probably change in environment. The other spike appears fine. That can happen when you bring a new plant home. Many plants will drop their blooms.

It appears you are keeping the plant quite far from the windows. After the other spike finishes, move the plant close to the windows. They light good light.

You can leave it where you have it until the other spike finishes.

You didn't mention what direction those windows face. This would be helpful.

I grew some large Oncids in NY in a very bright living room. I found low humidity did not affect the plants nor the flowers. I never misted.

Now living in Florida, mine are growing in full sun with a thin layer of shade cloth. They like a lot of light.

Jane

You need more humidity. In general find out where a plant originates from if possible. Then find out the climate. Your job is to give as much of home to it in your house that you can. I think it need more humidity. I live in a humid place so we try to dry things out. The mister is a good idea. Tell us how it works.

That one in particular would appreciate being right up in a window.

Maybe I'll get a short wire shelving (3 shelf) and put them there when it's finished blooming.

After blooming finishes, can you get it out on the covered patio by the grill or under an east facing eave? Good morning or evening sun plus the air movement would be good. Bring it back in when it is ready to bloom again.

As far as the blooms, they are dying from the bottom up which is normal and who knows for how long it bloomed on that spike before you purchased it a month ago. At this point, "No worries" in my opinion.

Good luck,

Bob

no, The weather gets too cold here, and it's too hot in the summer. It's already below 50 degrees at the coldest point, and it can snow when it gets really cold.

Bob is right. These can take temps in the high 40's. I left mine outside until the nights dipped into the low 40's. Put them outside again in the morning. Lot of work but the plants really appreciate the light.

I never had a problem with low humidity in my NY home. In the dead of winter, our humidity could go as low at 11%. I always kept my orchids in groups so they give each other some humidity.

Your plant wants good, strong light in order to bloom again. They can take hot temps. Mine all live outside all summer in Florida and bloom on schedule. In Florida, I grow them in a lose mix to allow water to drain quickly. In NY I used a mix of small bark and sphag. which holds more moisture.

Jane

Maybe the blooms would last longer w/misting? I'll put them on the patio (it's covered) when it's finished blooming as long as it's not too cold. Thank you for telling me that the oncidiums are ok w/temps to the 40s. That helps a lot. Are the phals ok too? I'll try them out on the patio next summer as long as it doesn't get too hot. It got to 114 one day this year. I think that's too hot.

Generally a max of 90's for phals and there should be a breeze. They could probably handle that high of temp for a few days as long as there was a good breeze, they were in the shade and it lowered during the nights. 40's is a little low for phals (mine do sit out into the 40's at times for short periods in the fall, but then mine grow a bit cooler in Ohio than AR), That said, hybrids phals usually appreciate an @15 degree drop (or more) in temps to initiate blooming and I accomplish that by leaving them out until nighttime temps drop into the low 50's or 40's for a week or two here in Ohio. Probably won't need to be that cool where you are, again the @15 degree drop from their normal temps is the key to initiate blooming on most hybrids.

I'd think the Onc could handle the temps swings as long as there was a good breeze and no mid-day sun when really hot.

If it does get too hot for a week or so, you could always bring them in for that time.

I agree with Jane, humidity or lack thereof is of the least importance. You probably will notice they need to be watered a little more often to help make up for that lack of humidity.

Bob

Thank you. They would have just sat on my kitchen counter all the time without this thread. The weather the next few days is getting colder. The temp is supposed to dip down to a low of 41 on Saturday, but next week it's supposed to be warmer. Will 41 be ok? I put them out today.(the phals) because the temp now is 50.

I'd put it by the window but not outside.

41 is too cool unless they were acclimated, even then 41 is pretty cool. If 50 is the lowest temp and it is warmer during most of the day/night then I'd think you would be OK. If 50 is the high, then I'd consider moving them in also.

FWIW: When I used to grow only indoors, in the fall I'd open/crack a window next to my phals at night to get the temp swings needed to initiate spikes/blooms.

Good luck,

Bob

ok, good to know. I won't let them stay outside if the overnight low is predicted to be less than 50. I got a wire rack, so I'll put them next to the window when I bring them in. Thank you.