Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Oncidium sphacelatum bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Dancing Lady Orchid, Golden Shower Orchid (Oncidium sphacelatum).

More about oncidium sphacelatum

About Oncidium sphacelatum

Oncidium sphacelatum · also called Dancing Lady Orchid, Golden Shower Orchid · flowering

Oncidium sphacelatum is a vigorous epiphytic dancing-lady orchid that throws branching arching sprays of dozens of small golden-yellow, brown-barred flowers in late winter and spring. It grows from clustered plump pseudobulbs, enjoys bright light and a fast dry-down, and rewards a generous grower with a spectacular cascading display.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — No flower spikes: Almost always too little light. Increase brightness gradually and ensure a cooler autumn dip to trigger spiking.

The reasons oncidium sphacelatum isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming oncidium sphacelatum traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding oncidium sphacelatum a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get oncidium sphacelatum to flower

Maximise sun. Give oncidium sphacelatum the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for oncidium sphacelatum and get the feeding right with the oncidium sphacelatum fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Oncidium sphacelatum flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full oncidium sphacelatum care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Oncidium sphacelatum blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my oncidium sphacelatum flower?

Oncidium sphacelatum blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make oncidium sphacelatum bloom?

Give oncidium sphacelatum the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does oncidium sphacelatum normally bloom?