I can't figure out why two of my orchid cactus didn't bloom this year? I don't know the name of either of them and was hopeing for a flower for identification. puh!!
Wondering Why ??
Here is my other one. I have about 25 different ones but these are 2 I thought for sure. Any answers please.
Wish I knew the answer! I have one that was a good sized division a few years ago, and still hasn't bloomed .All the cuttings I recieved at about the same time bloomed great this year.
I'm stumped. I fed them bloom food and thought I put them in a good place outside. Oh well...I've loved see your blooms OCCAROL, your yard is beautiful.
I am trying to find the safe night temps for Mom's orchid cactus and found this:
My epi won't flower. Why not?
Epis need a period of several weeks at the end of winter when they should only have the same amount of light as light appears outside. These short days trigger flowering in spring for spring blooming species. This poses a problem for plants indoors which receive light from artificial lights in the house. You have to cover the plant at dusk and remove the cover next morning to give the short day effect. Another factor in blooming has to do with pot size. If the pot is too big a plant it will spend its time producing roots to fill the pot at the expense of concentrating on flowering.
This is quoted from this website:
http://www.theamateursdigest.com/epis.htm The article has a lot of arguing about the naming and I didn't read all that. Our orchid cactus are in a greenhouse over the winter and they don't get light at night so we've never had to bother with all that.
Also, didn't find the answer to low night temp - I know I have a printout somewhere but anyway we have frost warnings tonight in Ohio so they have to come inside now - just hope being out in low 40s for a few nights won't hurt them.
Hope yours bloom next year!
Thanks kljflower. I have a cooler extra room that I think I'm going to put them in for the winter, it only gets the natural day light of 2 windows. I put some in last year but the majority stayed in the living and dining area that gets the artificial light to. I plan to thin some of the older leaves out of the 2 big ones. I don't think temps in the 40's for a few days will hurt. I've always read that 50 degrees is the temp. for either taking plants out or bringing them in, so thats what I kind of go by. There is a frost advisory for tonight and tomorrow morning over this way.
Thanks again for the info.
Acts
I've read about the light issue too, but the parking lot lights that stay on all night haven't phased mine. Mine took a lot of low 40s temps last winter, and bloomed great! Of course, the days do warm up into the high 60s +.
I'm thinking "haha" what if when I water sparsley throught the winter I use a bloom fertilizer? Maybe give them a head start.
It's a risk! I gave mine some Dynagrow in the spring, and haven't given them anything but water since. My growing season is much different than yours.
I find it interesting that some people report multiple plants blooming regularly every blooming season without fail. That's never been my experience though it would be nice. Epies take three plus years to become blooming size from cuttings. Yes, sometimes you might get a bloom from a cutting the next season after planting. It happens, but isn't the rule and will only weaken your planting. Plants may begin blooming many years after establishing themselves and bloom irregularly or bloom every blooming season. Plants may rarely or never bloom, which might be normal for them. Point is, enjoy the plant as a plant and count the bloom as an extra. Many hybrids are slow to bloom or bloom only rarely--but are truly unusual and beautiful houseplants worthy of your admiration.
Your plants are both beautiful and healthy. It's obvious that you are doing plenty right! I have found it very hard to identify Noids by their bloom in that many look so much alike and are often in the same family. If very unusual, it can be done more accurately but please be careful and be sure of your Id's if you plan to trade etc. However, I don't know your level of involvement and you most likely know this already. Enjoy your plants friend.
Thank You orchidman, I really appreciate your comment. Most of my epis are looking very nice and healthy and I enjoy just displaying them. Maybe if I stop fretting over them and just care for them I will be rewarded with a surprise.
Thanks so much
Acts :)