Oncidium’s headliner may follow opening act

Q:I am unhappy with the reblooming of my Beallara Marfitch "Howards Dream." The last time it bloomed, it had a dozen or more large purple flowers. Now it has only a few wimpy ones. What happened? -- Page T.

Answer: The adage "the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior" applies not only to humans but also to orchids. Chances are if a plant has produced a crowd-pleasing display for several consecutive years, it will continue to do so. When everything is done correctly and the blooming is still inferior, it takes a little detective work to figure out the villain.

Occasionally an oncidium (dancing lady) makes an off-season blooming, which seems at first glance to be a real dud. But close examination of the flower stem reveals that it didn't emerge from the base of the newest pseudo-bulb but rather from the top.

This preliminary blooming is referred to as the "apical stem" because it comes out of the "apex" of the plant. The flower stem is narrow and weak, capable of producing only a small number of blooms.

The normal blooming will occur a few months later and is called the "basal stem" because the flower spike emerges from the base.

Many oncidium hybrids exhibit this "apex" blooming trait, including the classic yellow Sweet Sugar, but the reason is not known. Experts conclude that the plant must be so excited to bloom that it can't wait.

Orchid buffs know that a Beallara is just a fancy name for an intergeneric oncidium hybrid that combines four orchid types -- Brassia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossom. The plant looks and acts like a traditional oncidium, so for all practical purposes it is an oncidium.

In normal oncidium growth, the plant makes a large new leaf (pseudo-bulb) once or twice a year and, when complete, produces a new flower spike. The spike usually makes branches that are covered with buds that open in rapid-fire succession. The old growth never blooms again but provides food and water as needed.

Sometimes there is a small opening act -- a few teaser blooms -- but the headliner is soon to follow.

. . .

Answer: Insects such as aphids, mealy bugs and scale cause minor to moderate damage but are individually too small to consume entire petals.

Full-scale devastation can be the work of herbivorous grasshoppers or caterpillars. But by far the gooiest, most revolting experience is that of the slug or large snail.

Like bank robbers who drop dye-colored money, slugs leave behind their calling card -- a slimy trail. This trail not only identifies them but also sometimes leads straight to their daytime hiding place -- usually on, under or inside a pot. Successful slug sleuths will return to the site for many nights with a flashlight until the vermin is found, then gently disposed of in a cup of soapy water.