That was my experience too and I seem to be doing better with them since I started to mount them.
Even then, the one which is not spiking this year and was also silent last year, had produced 4 huge spikes and was definitely resting for a couple of years. It looks fine and and it now started to grow again.
That's why one needs a few of these....

Absolutely stunning -- ALL OF THEM! Keep the pix coming!

So strange to see you with these Phals., Kathy. Good job!

The Baptistonia flowers are very cool and Phal. parishii is a personal fav but I'm not lovin' that Catt cross, Ursula (since you asked that is). IMO the lip stands out oddly and the other two petals make it look like it's getting ready to fly off. One flower a year wouldn't bother me if the plant form was beautiful.

Oncidium sphacelatum is just starting bloom for the first time with three spikes. Got it Fall '08. It had spots on the leaves from the grower and then I burned it Spring '09 when it moved outside. Once its conditioned though it likes as much sun as the Cyms..
Laurel

That's a nice one. Can you take a bit closer shot?

It is odd to be growing phals again!

Yeah, I'll get closer soon. The first flowers still need a few days to open. Looks like the process will be weeks long. I'll post the progress.The pot is stuck in a planter in front of a Bird of Paradise and behind a huge bromeliad. I'm considering trying to pull it out to display it in the family room. Potential for disaster.

Laurel, about the so labeled Phal parishii. I had the feeling it was misidentified, but I didn't trust myself well enough to relabel it. But, it was pointed out to me that it is lobbii and not parishii. Googling confirms it.
These two and hybrids of both seem to be sold quite often mislabeled.

About the ugly Cattleya x - it will be compost.

Ursula I wondered about the lobbii. I have both (parishii is in spike for the first time) and I've seen Phal. parishii x lobbii online, too. http://images.google.com/imgre...

I've opened the database to see how it goes. If you have questions, read this first. http://cubits.org/orchids/thre... Then post questions and comments if you still want to.

Ursula, why do you think the Phal. is a lobii? How can you tell the difference? I see what you mean from the Orchid Species photo, but my reference photos show that yours looks identical to parishii. Maybe the plant form and not the flower has clues. I'd think twice before relabeling.

This Tolumnia is currently a NOID. I'm hoping to catch the name when the next shipment comes in.

There are lots of side spikes but will they do anything after hanging out at the Big Box?

Why shouldn't they keep blooming in your care?

About the Phal parishii var lobbii or its placement as separate species and hybrids - (crossing both as in Lovely Kid ) and other etcs - there are lots of links showing a few dozens pictures of all of them. We had discussions about this last Spring around here.
You know, after looking at all of them again and AGAIN, mainly at the lip- pattern differences, perhaps calling it lobbii comes closest.
It seems they are sold with varying names and even after one vendor notes a correction, another will sell one again labeled differently.

Perhaps as a final note, I like them all and I wish I could keep them more reliably alive/thriving. On a happy note, my Phal decumbens which looked splendid for several years and then dropped all leaves ( they like to do that...), is trying to push out some new growth.

Geeze Laurel,
Your BigBox store has a exotic selection!
The flowers are very festive, like flaminco dancer angels.

I agree, much better than the Big Box stores around here!!
As far as lobbii vs. parishii. I assumed the parishii has maroon on the sides. I have one in spike so maybe we can compare.

Rats, my Amesiella monticola bud blasted.

They did, Kathy? rats, drats, double drats. My 3 graces finally popped today..... ( got 3 buds lined up.)

Ohh, so sorry about the blasting, Kathy. Really frustrating when you're that close.

The Tolumnias are coming to Lowes via Better-Gro . They've been available in the western states for several years but this is the first time I've seen them here. Hope they continue to get different ones and not the same three or four ad nauseum.

Ursula, thanks for the compliment (I think). One never knows how long the orchids have been hanging out at the Big Box. The only surety is the care they received while there. There was also an unusual selection of Catts in bloom. Better quality and variety than the usual. Too bad they were stuffed in sphag and swimming in water.

Laurel, if they looked fine when you bought them, I wouldn't see a problem.

I used to work at Lowe's in VA and there were several people that looked after the plants, only one cared...she would would inspect each plant, lift it and then make a choice about watering or not. Their training was good, but most people in those stores don't care about plants.

Sadly, I think working for a big corp. is like working for the government...you just put in your hours. Much as I hate the congestion around here, I guess it has an up side... I can go to the HD 5 min. away for a bolt, or I can go to the one 10 min. away if I want to browse the garden shop. Same applies to Lowes and Walmart. I also have an Armstrong Nursery 10 min. away that carries orchids from the same grower that my Costco uses. They had a much better selection, but still no labels, and twice the price. I'm trying to convince myself to wait for the shows!

Ah, definitely the best source.
My new Den. kingianum var. silcockii is open!!!