Orchid oncidium: description, history of occurrence, home care, as well as photos of popular varieties such as Twinkle, Sweet Sugar and others

When you get acquainted with this incredibly gentle and beautiful view of orchids, of course, there is a desire to settle such a treasure at home. Oncidium is able to give the feeling of a fairy tale by its mere presence in the house.

How can flowers “soar” like butterflies and for so long, because this orchid is capable of blooming for four months. We will talk about the features of this species, its varieties, conditions for cultivation and care in our article. Also watch a useful video on this topic.

Brief definition of the species

Oncidium is a herbaceous perennial of the Orchid family, the main part of its species belongs to epiphytes, however, both land plants and lithophytes are found. These are the inhabitants of the tropics, you can meet them in natural conditions in the countries of Central and South America, southern Florida and the Antilles.

Detailed description

This orchid is very diverse, conditionally the Oncidiums are divided by territorial basis (by origin):

cold resistant - live in mountainous regions, where temperature changes often occur, moreover, they can easily withstand cooling to 7 degrees;
thermophilic - native to the warm, humid climate of tropical forests in South and Central America;
drought tolerant - they live well in arid areas, prefer to settle on stones, they do not need constant moisture.

ATTENTION: Oncidium belongs to sympodial orchids, they have oblong pseudobulbs with bright thin skin, from which lanceolate-type leaves grow, they can be very thin (in shade-loving ones) or, conversely, very hard, leathery (in heat-loving ones).

The flowers of this orchid are collected in a brush, and very beautiful inflorescences are obtained, they can be arched, straight, drooping.

The size of the flowers (they are called "dancing dolls") varies from 1 to 12 cm, and the length of the inflorescence is from 10 cm to 5 meters. The predominant color of flowers is red-brown, lemon and yellow. Oncidium blooms can be seen at any time of the year., moreover, on the same arrow the flowers are able to open 2-3 times.

History of occurrence

Of course, one should treat Oncidium with due respect, because it came from plants that grew on the earth several million years ago. The plant came to Europe in the 18th century, the first to describe it was the Swedish botanist Peter Olof Swartz.

The main difference between Oncidium and other species is that its flower has a special shape of the lower lip - it looks like a skirt that starts to “dance” even with the smallest draft. So confusing this view with another is simply impossible.

Subsorta and their photos

In total, there are more than 600 species of Oncidium in nature., a large number of different varieties and hybrids, from all this mass you can select the most popular for home cultivation:

Warty

This is an epiphytic plant with thin light green leaves, bright yellow flowers form an elegant inflorescence, their number can reach up to a hundred pieces.

Yellow

Its magnificent inflorescence consists of a huge number of small yellow flowers.

Twinkle (Twinkle)

Very small orchid with white, pink or light yellow flowers, size 1.5 cm. Prefers moderate temperatures.

Papilionaceous

It has round pseudobulbs and unusual olive-green leaves with red marble veins. The flowers are reddish brown with oblong yellow spots.

Winding

Epiphyte with a long peduncle, the inflorescence is tender, quite loose, the flowers are small bright yellow with red spots.

Sweet Sugar

His pseudobulbs are tiny, very closely located in relation to each other. Yellow flowers with a diameter of 3 cm.

Beautiful

It has flat pseudobulbs, long soft leaves, which with age from ash-green with slightly noticeable purple dashes become green with a dark purple hue.

Bloom

When and how - blooms 1 time per year for 1 to 4 months, a brush of many small flowers forms on the peduncle.
Care before and after flowering - before flowering we water, do not forget to feed and spray, and after flowering we provide conditions for the plant to restore strength - a dormant phase.
What to do if it does not bloom - be sure to withstand the dormant period and observe the watering regime.

Home Care

Seat selection - the best place for this orchid will be eastern or western windows, it will be necessary to shade it slightly in bright sunshine, and in autumn and winter, when daylight is short, a phytolamp of 3-4 hours per day is required - this is very important, since at this time new pseudobulbs are formed and a new peduncle is laid.
Soil and pot preparation - It is best to prepare the soil for Oncidium from the same parts of pine bark, charcoal and peat, moreover, the granules should be small in size (1 - 2 cm). Naturally, special prepared soil for orchids, which is sold in stores, is suitable. The pot is required for this plant is shallow and wide enough, because it is necessary to leave free space for new pseudobulbs. Material for the pot: plastic or ceramic (unglazed), it must be opaque.
Temperature - a special approach is needed here, because different types of Oncidium have slightly different needs, we can conditionally distinguish three categories:
- cold-loving - for them it is necessary to ensure the regime: from 7 to 10 degrees in the winter and not higher than 22 degrees in the summer, this includes, for example, the Warty Oncidium;
- heat-loving - for this category, summer temperature requires 25 - 30 degrees, and winter temperature is preferably not lower than 18, the difference per day should not be more than 3 - 5 degrees, representative - Oncidium Motylkovy;
- moderate content - for them a comfortable summer temperature is 20 - 25, and winter - 12 - 15 degrees, here is a vivid example - Oncidium the Beautiful.
IMPORTANT: All Oncidiums cannot stand drafts. It is also worth noting that the stores offer mainly those hybrids that have excellent adaptability, they develop well at temperatures from 14 to 26 degrees.
Humidity - humidity requirements are very modest, and 40% will be enough. It is not necessary to spray at all in cool weather, but in summer in the heat and in the winter heating season it is necessary to do this, otherwise the tips of the leaves will begin to dry out and the pseudobulbs will wrinkle.
Lighting - the plant is photophilous, but does not tolerate direct sunlight, it is required to protect (shade). By the color of the leaves it is very simple to understand whether he has enough light or not - if the leaf is dark green, then there is little light, and if it is pale lime, then there is an abundance of light.
Watering - it is best to “bathe” an orchid in warm, settled water; you can determine the need for watering by drying the soil. From the moment when a new pseudobulb begins to form, watering must be stopped, and renewed at the formation of the peduncle, gradually increasing the dose. With excess water, the plant may die.
Top dressing - you can start to fertilize from the moment the plant grows, during the formation of the peduncle and during flowering, and during the formation of the pseudobulb it is impossible to fertilize. The most optimal option is the alternation of root dressings with foliar.
Transfer - without the need, it is better not to disturb the orchid, you can transplant it no more than 1 time in 3 years. From the old pot, carefully remove the lump from the weave of the substrate with the roots (previously well moistened) and transfer it to a new prepared pot - 3 cm filled with drainage, do not deepen the pseudobulbs, the young ones should be located in the center, and the old ones should be directed to the edge of the pot and carefully fall asleep substrate roots.
You should not immediately put it on the window and water it, for some time the orchid should adapt, and after about a week we transfer it to a permanent place.

Watch the video about the features of caring for oncidium:

How to propagate?

Oncidium multiplies by dividing the bush (this can be done with a transplant), best in spring. When the plant is pulled out of the pot, carefully break it with your hands (or cut it with a sharp clean knife) into two parts so that there are at least three pseudobulbs on each.

TIP: All slices must be treated with charcoal, then we plant each part in our pot. A week you need to refrain from watering, and then continue to care, following the rules.

Watch the video on the propagation of oncidium by dividing the bush:

Diseases and Pests

Like any plant, Ontsidium is not immune from the attack of various pests, most often it may appear:

mealybug - externally, you can see small cotton lumps on the leaves, you must first remove them from the sheet with an alcoholized cotton pad, and then treat them with Actara;
spider mite - small thin cobwebs and white dots are noticeable, it is necessary to rinse the plant under a warm shower and treat it with Actellik;
aphid - sucks out the juice, as a result, the leaves begin to dry out and fall off, you need to process Actellik or Karbofos.

Overmoistening should not be allowed - the plant can get root rot, Fundazole can help.

Prevention of various problems

The best prevention is regular proper care of the plant.. It is necessary to clearly withstand the period of rest, to prevent drafts, overheating, and timely feeding.

Conclusion

What conclusion can be made? Definitely, it is worth getting at home such a miracle of nature as Oncidium. Yes, it may be necessary to take care of it more carefully than other plants, but for the sake of such an instance you can try. Even if you have only one plant on the window - an orchid when it blooms - a sense of celebration is guaranteed.