Oncidium Orchid Indoor Maintenance?

Oncidium orchids, also known as dancing lady orchids, require proper care and lighting. They thrive in a semi-shady to semi-sunny environment, with east or west windows being ideal for indoor use. They prefer more sunlight than other orchid varieties and should be kept in a bark-based potting soil.

During winter, they thrive best in places with temperatures between 95F-100F (35C-38C) and 70F-80F (21C-27C). To ensure optimal growth, the orchid should be kept in a temperature range of 13-25°C (55-77°F). The orchid can be grown in special orchid cases or greenhouses, and the right soil mix, watering frequency, and hybrids are available for beginners.

Oncidium varicosum is a popular species, producing bright, colorful flowers. In greenhouses, plants can be planted in various soil mixes, including 100 sphagnum to 50 sphagnum and 50 fine-grade orchid bark mix. Planting in treefern fiber or mixed with sphagnum can also be done.

Oncidium orchids require moderate humidity of at least 40, but can tolerate up to 70 percent. They can be grown in temperatures up to 95F-100F (35C-38C) with increased watering. When not in active growth, the orchid should be allowed to dry out.

In warm dry weather, oncidiums may need to be watered 2 to 3 times a week. Oncidiinae are large-leaved orchids that transpire a relatively high volume of water.

How do I get my Oncidium to bloom?

Warm growing oncidiums require 18-25°C (65-77°F) in the day and 13-17°C (55-63°F) at night, with a drop in temperature at night encouraging flowering. Windowsills are ideal locations, as they are cooler at night. These tender orchids make spectacular houseplants, producing tall stems of small, dainty flowers resembling butterflies or dancing ladies. They flower in autumn, but modern hybrids can bloom all year round. Keep them at 13-25°C in bright light.

How often should I water an Oncidium orchid?

Watering an Oncidium plant varies depending on its type and size. Thicker roots and leaves require less watering than thinner leaves. Plants should be watered thoroughly with lukewarm to room temperature water every two to ten days when the planting media is half dry. To check if the plant needs water, use a wooden stick or chopstick to see if only the end comes out wet. Once the orchid has finished blooming, let the flowers fall off and wait for the stem to be dead before cutting it back.

What pots are best for Oncidium orchids?

To maintain an oncidium orchid, choose a small, confined pot that is not too large, as large pots can cause the compost to become moist and damp, damaging the roots. Remove the old bark mixture and clean off the bad roots, leaving white or tan roots that are firm to the touch. Place the plant in a new pot, placing the oldest growth towards the back, for 1-2 years for newer growths to develop. Oncidiums can be divided when there are 6 or more pseudobulbs, leaving 3 growths per division. After repotting, maintain high humidity and dry potting medium until new roots form.

Do Oncidiums like to dry out?

The majority of oncidiums are adapted to periods of desiccation between irrigation events. However, fan-leaved equitants exhibit a greater sensitivity to conditions of excess moisture. This does not imply that they should be deprived of water, but rather that they require a period of drying between each watering.

How to rehydrate an Oncidium orchid?

To rehydrate the orchid, it is essential to provide it with thorough irrigation using lukewarm water. Additionally, it is crucial to mist the plant’s leaves and flowers with water and to shield it from wind to prevent the misted water from evaporating instead of being absorbed by the plant.

How do you look after Oncidium?

Oncidiums are a type of plant that thrives in filtered, indirect sun light, with bright green leaves. They require moderately dry water between waterings, with more water needed during the new shoot and less once the bulb forms. Fertilize the plants at least once a month, keeping water out of the new growth at the base. Avoid using artificially softened water. Oncidiums prefer moist air, with a minimum of 40-50 humidity in the immediate vicinity. Humidity should be increased with higher temperatures, with an ideal range of 55-75.

To increase humidity, place the pot on an inverted saucer in a baking pan filled with pebbles, rock chips, and water. Keep water level below the top of pebbles to prevent ‘wet feet’. Morning misting of foliage is also helpful. Oncidiums should be repotted every two years, when the new shoot is two to three inches tall or when new roots appear. Remove old mix from roots and dead roots, and divide the bulbs in clumps of three to five mature bulbs.

When should you repot an Oncidium?

Green Jungle Orchid Food is a highly recommended fertilizer for orchids, providing them with the nutrients they would naturally encounter in their wild habitats. It works best with low-alkalinity water, such as rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water. However, tap water may be used, but mineral buildup may require repotting more frequently. If potting in bark mix, fertilize every time you water, flushing with non-softened water once a month to rinse the media of salt and mineral buildup. When potting in sphagnum moss, fertilize every 3rd watering year round.

Oncidiinae and intergenerics like to be kept fairly moist, with the media just approaching dryness between waterings. During warm, dry weather, they may need to be watered 2 to 3 times a week. If the roots are healthy, under-watering may be necessary. Watering in the morning allows leaves to dry and avoids bacterial growth overnight. If possible, use low-alkalinity water, such as rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water.

Should you cut Oncidium flower spikes?

After the fade of flower spikes, it’s crucial to prune them to ensure a flourishing Oncidium ‘Twinkle’ orchid. Cut them back to just above a node if green, or down to the base if spent. Pseudobulbs are the thick, swollen parts at the base. Spring and fall pruning align with orchid growth cycles, and sterilize tools, trim carefully, and monitor recovery for thriving orchids. When the curtain falls on the last flower, it’s the cue to prune, as this post-bloom period is the orchid’s downtime and a strategic pause for the next act. Dormancy isn’t just a nap for the plant; it’s a strategic pause that won’t interrupt the orchid’s natural rhythm.

Do orchids like coffee grounds for fertilizer?

While coffee grounds are beneficial as a compost addition, their decomposition is not effective for most orchids. Furthermore, the rapid decomposition of orchid potting bark caused by coffee grounds results in root rot. It is therefore recommended that these grounds be reserved for use with other plants.

What is the best fertilizer for Oncidiums?

To produce strong pseudobulbs, fertilize regularly with a high nitrogen formulation for bark-based plants, a 20-20-20 formulation for other media, or a bloom-booster formulation for flower spikes. Avoid fertilizing during winter. Potting should occur during the initiation of new growth, usually in spring, but can occur year-round as long as the plants are not in spike. These plants require an evenly moist, breathable potting medium. When repotting, position the newest growth away from the pot’s edge to allow maximum new growths to form.

Spread roots over a cone of potting medium and fill in around the roots. Firm the medium around the roots. Plant in 100 sphagnum to 50 sphagnum and 50 fine-grade orchid bark mix in greenhouses or 100 treefern fiber or mixed with some sphagnum. Indoors, plant in either 100 tree fern fiber or 1/3 sphagnum and 2/3 fine orchid bark mix or tree fern fiber (or both). Plant in 100 sphagnum, as long as it is not sitting in water.