James it's in an unheated sun room, and definitely has cool nights all winter. My Cymbidiums are in that room and they are in full bloom right now. Do you happen to know what season Miltassias normally bloom? Maybe I have to wait until spring, summer or fall.

I would expect spikes after the growth matures which could be more than once a year in any season. I guess it must be something else, not sure what though. So the other culprits are: light, fertilizer, and maybe pot size. Some plant like to be a bit root bound to flower. Maybe a little more light? Your plant appears to be healthy based on your description so fertilizer would be at the bottom of the list.

OK. Well it's in a very bright spot, just a couple of feet back from a large, south facing window. I gets a little direct light late afternoon, but very bright light the rest of the day, It's in the original pot, so nicely pot-bound with just a few roots climbing over the edge. And I fertilize it weekly with 1/4 strength 20-20-20 plant food. Leaves are light green so I think light is fine. I'll wait and see.

I was always taught, if a orchid is healthy, growing but not blooming, it is light.

Do you have a East window? South is too strong, East would be the best.

Try to increase light levels, and see what happens.

Jane

Jane, it's not really "in" the window, but rather on a table away from it. Actually, it has bloomed a couple of times in the past, in the same spot, and for a while it was right in that same window. I think I'll put it outdoors when the weather warms (if ever!). Today we are in the midst of another nor'easter. 12-18 inches of snow and 50 mph winds. Not quite orchid weather yet!

Lol! You sound like my daughter who lives in Connecticut. She told me today that she has freaking had it with all the snow. She can't take anymore!

Putting the plant outside might do the trick. Higher humidity and fluctuations in temps. I would also cut back on fertilizer so the plant puts more into blooming.

Certain orchids, need to be cut back on food. You could cut your fertilizing in half from what you have been doing. You don't need all these healthy, unblooming bulbs.

Let me know how it goes and definitely post some pics if you get it to bloom.

Jane

I will try that. Thanks Jane.

"Dry" is unlikely for the Milt. Very few members of the Oncidium Alliance ever want to truly dry out. Lightly moist is generally the ideal.

Light would be my guess as well. Although some plants, as Jane mentioned, need to "go hungry" -- ie no fertilizer -- for a few months to trigger blooming. This is currently blooming season for many onc types. Not sure if Milt has a certain season or if it can bloom anytime. If seaonal, then you may have missed this cycle.

Wondering if you ever figured out what would make it happy? I am new to miltassias (bought a seedling recently-ugh will never do that again). I would think you have plenty of light if you can get a bird of paradise to bloom! So, too much light? I wonder because my seedling has become a lighter green and I am wondering if I am giving it too much light. You are obviously giving it a cool period if you can bloom cymbidiums. So then its maybe a fertilizer/water thing?

It might be because your seedling is not big enough to bloom. Some orchids out of flask are fairly quick, others take ages to get to blooming size.

Yes, my seedling isn't big enough to bloom.