Oncidiumspp. (syn.Odontoglossum)
Are you up for a growing challenge ? Have you mastered the art of raisingPhalaenopsisorchids ? Then it ’s time to contain outOdontoglossumorchids , also known as Panthera tigris orchid .
Native to high altitudes in the Andes in South America , these orchids are renowned for their big , vivacious blossoms that can last for months .
They ’re also known for being a scrap challenging to arise because they prosper in circumstance not typically find in most homes .
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Do n’t let that intimidate you , though , it ’s not unacceptable and reckon how honest you ’ll feel when your orchid is in full bloom in all its resplendency .
Additionally breeder have created a number of adaptable hybrids and cultivars that are much easier to manage for .
By the time you finish this guide , you ’ll be an expert . Here ’s what we ’ll go over to make that happen :
What You’ll Learn
Before we talk about how to cultivate these orchid , we necessitate to sack up up some terminology .
I know we often call themOdontoglossum , but that ’s not quite accurate . They might be classify that elbow room , but they might not . Weird , right ? Let ’s discourse .
What Are Odontoglossum or Oncidium Orchids?
Odontoglossumis a mouthful , so it serve to break it down .
Odonto is Hellenic for tooth , and glossa is Hellenic for tongue . Put them together , and you have “ tooth - tongue . ”
This is a reference to the fleshy little lump found on the upper surface of the lowermost petal , which is known as the labellum .
Now that you know what the name means , you could forget about it .
Orchidists and plant scientist have been take for eld in a fiery debate over how to class these plants . Well , flaming for botanists , which is likely more like a civilised conversation backed by scientific research and splendid logical thinking than an all - out argument .
For decades , many orchidists have been campaigning for the reclassification of theOdontoglossumgenus .
Since the early 2000s and as lately as 2016 , the genus has been undergo important shake-up . It used to be thatOdontoglossumspecies andOncidiumspecies were disjoined genera , despite the plants looking similar .
The former grow in cold regions at high summit , while the latter grows in strong regions at lower elevations .
Now , they ’re all classified together in theOncidiumgenus , and those formerly classified asOdontoglossumare only referred to as cool - weather or cool - growingOncidium .
You might also see the fresh pigeonholing refer to as theOdontoglossumalliance or theOncidiumalliance . The original species in theOncidiumgenus are refer to as lowland or strong - growingOncidium .
It seems like sellers have n’t catch up with the update , so you ’ll sometimes find these betray under their original name , and a tidy sum of hoi polloi retain to refer to them that way . Even some orchidists refuse to consent the reclassification .
These orchidaceous plant are sympodial , which mean that the growth emerge from a horizontal rootstock in the soil rather than a single upright bow like aPhalaenopsis .
They have flat , oval pseudobulbs from which one to three foliage emerge . As you might have guessed , they can grow asterrestrial orchids , but they ’re typicallyepiphytes .
The gaudy prime , which can be livid , pinkish , red , royal , or any compounding of those color , typically go forth in the fall or winter , though a few species efflorescence in spring . Most species have non-white speckling on the flowers , which can resemble the stripes on a Panthera tigris ’s coat .
The heyday are agree on a flower stem that extend from the pseudobulbs , and each pseudobulb will mould just one flower stem .
At the top of the stem are multiple flowers , each with three sepal , two petal , and a column and lip at the centre . After the flower drop , that pseudobulb will never flower again , but new ones will form to take its spot .
If you ’ve neverheard of pseudobulbs before , you may learn all about them in our guide .
In a nutshell , a pseudobulb is a bow - similar growth at the basis of the plant that stores water and nutrients .
Cool - growingOncidiumorchids are generally between one to four feet marvellous , depending on the mintage , though there are more compact hybrids uncommitted .
Cultivation and History
These industrial plant grow indigenously across Central America and western South America from sea point to well over 8,000 foot .
They are generally hardy in Zones 7 to 10 , depend on the species .
The works was first discover by Westerners when German naturalist and explorer Friedrich Heinrich Alexander Baron von Humboldt found a specimen in Venezuela in 1799 that we now know asO. epidendroides .
It was sent to England for identification , and many other Modern mintage followed , as they were discover by other explorers in the area .
The genus was name in 1816 by German botanist Karl Sigismund Kunth , who explore and studied the indigenous plants in the Americas .
In 1835 , the firstOdontoglossumbloomed in England to much fanfare when a specimen from Guatemala of the speciesO. bictonienseburst forth . This metal money apace became a favourite among collectors and plant breeder .
Breeders and base growers also focused onO. cordatum , O. crispum , O. harryanum , O. pulchellum , O. rossii . Today , many hybrid are cultivated fromO. crispumandO. rossii .
Oncidium Propagation
It ’s entirely potential to propagate orchid from ejaculate if you ’re adventurous . Our guidebook explains the cognitive operation .
partition is also technically potential , but it ’s ambitious and just left to those with a lot of experience . Most of us will take the light road and buy our first plants .
When you bring your plant home , resist the urge to put it in a larger container .
Over - potting is a prompt way to vote down Panthera tigris orchid because they are passing sensitive to grow in an excessively bombastic pot , which can bestow to root rot .
When you take yours home , you could allow it in the existing container for another year or two .
see more about orchid propagation here .
How to Grow Oncidium Orchids
As I advert , these orchidaceous plant have a reputation for being a niggling minute of a challenge to originate .
But , frankly , if you were used to the perfect clime of incessant spring , you ’d likely be a little peeved if someone tried to make you live anywhere less idyllic .
The first thing you need to sort out is positioning . Cool - weatherOncidiumplants need bright light , but they absolutely must stay cool , which can be guileful because often brightly lit area in the household are also the warmest .
avert west - face windows because of the amount of heat energy . eastern United States - confront windows will work , as will south - facing windows covered with light - filtering curtains – not unmixed curtain – take on you ’re not in a very hot climate .
In very warm climate , you ’d be better off keeping the plant off from any window and providing auxiliary kindling or else . Find a grow bulb that is low to medium Inner Light or one that is dimmable , and place it about 36 inches away from the plant life .
This full - spectrum grow bulbavailable via Amazonhas always worked well for me and you could put it in a conventional fixture so you do n’t have some ugly grow Inner Light hanging in your living room or sleeping room .
These plants produce natively at the edges of forests in “ burnished ghost , ” which may sound contradictory , but the shade under trees next to a hayfield and the ghost under trees in the eye of a forest is different .
seek to keep this in mind when choosing subsidiary lighting or clean a spot in your dwelling .
As I have mentioned , one of the main challenges of growing these orchids is that they require cool temperatures .
These plant should be kept consistently under 75 ° degree Fahrenheit . sound plants can put up abbreviated period warm than this , but not for long .
At nighttime , temperatures should drop to around 55 ° F . Any fond than this , the flora will likely not thrive .
Most species can permit temperature a bit below this range but will perish in temperature above 75 ° F . They also ca n’t tolerate freezing temperatures , so you involve to keep the plants right on in that sweet zone .
When you repot your orchid , take down whether it ’s an epiphyte or sublunar .
Terrestrial types can produce in any loose , copious potting admixture . Epiphytes require to be potted in orchid barque . arrant barque will work , but a culture medium with a little oxford grey , lava , perlite , and/or peat is better .
you could find an excellent mix with moss , barque , perlite , and lava rock , uncommitted from rePotme in mini , junior , and stock bagsvia Amazon .
Orchid Potting Mix
Whatever you utilize , a medium with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 is ideal , and most potting mixes will be in this range unless they specify otherwise .
With some orchids , you may get forth with growing them in a standard pot , but you necessitate to use a slotted orchid pot with insensate - weatherOncidium .
find free to station the lot inside a more decorative one , but a slotted container is substantive when growing sensitive plants like these .
Learn more about choosing a container for your orchidaceous plant in our pathfinder .
you may also opt to mount them on Grant Wood , wire , or something like . In fact , I would recommend you mount your plant if you ’re conversant with this grow method .
It ’s hard to overwater them this way , and it more closely mime their natural habitat . Your only concern is maintain the substrate as moist as a well - wrung - out sponge .
Next , we need to verbalise about urine . These plant like lots of water , but the substratum must drain quickly and thoroughly .
They also need ripe caliber water . That does n’t mean you need to purchase them the premium bottled clobber , though it would n’t wound , but do n’t use municipal pee .
you may utilise filter body of water , rain , or buy distilled water – ideally you desire it to have a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 .
The substrate should never be grant to dry out , but it should n’t stay torpid and stiff , either . In their natural habitat , these orchids receive consistent moisture twelvemonth - round .
Once the pseudobulb start up to shrivel and wrinkle a small , they ’re severalise you they need moisture . You canlearn more about watering orchids in our guide .
These orchids like a humidness level of between 55 and 80 percent . A lot of homes are drier than this , so utilise a humidifier or keep plants in the lav if it has the right light and temperature .
you could also group plants together to increase the ambient humidity around them .
Feed every other weekduring the fountain and summertime and weekly during the wintertime . If you are maintain your industrial plant primarily in bark , it will need a stronger formulation than those grown in soil .
For a barque mix or soil , utilize something like a 3 - 1 - 2 NPK . For pure bark , apply 6 - 2 - 4 or similar .
Liquid Indoor Plant Fertilizer
leaf and Soul create a 3 - 1 - 2 solid food for houseplant that you’re able to find in an eight - ounce bottleat Amazon .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
Most new orchids you buy from the stock come up in a four- or five - column inch pot . will your specimen in this for the first class .
Then , you ’ll necessitate to replace the substratum every year and repot into a larger container when necessary .
The upright time to repot or change the substrate is in the saltation or fall .
Remove the flora from its pot and gently strike hard out all of the substrate . Examine the roots and clip off any that are mushy , confused , or dead .
sustain the root in the new pot and gently fulfill in around them with fresh substrate . Firm the substrate around the root so that they are carry enough that you could wind the plant by the stem , and the pot wo n’t fall off .
When you start to see a lot of roots coming out of the slot in the pot , this is a signaling that it ’s time to go up a pot size of it .
If you have the plant life get on , you will need to remove the quondam substratum every year or two and replace it , increase the size of it of the Qaeda slimly .
If your flora is mounted , it will typically be in a moss or barque substratum that is held together with mesh , string , or alike . You will require to replace this every few years as it breaks down , as well .
You require to replace the substrate sporadically for potted plants , as well , because salts will build up from municipal piddle and fertiliser , and the substrate will demote down over time .
You do n’t need to repot the orchidaceous plant , just take away the old substratum and exchange it with new .
Some species will rebloom on a regular basis every 10 month or so , irrespective of what you do .
Others need to be expose to temperatures about 10 grade lower than normal for a month or so to encourage blossoming . For more tips and the full run - down , check up on out our guide .
Oncidium Hybrids and Species to Select
As I mentioned , there are a number of modern cultivars and hybrids that are a bit less finicky than the mintage plants . get ’s look at a few bandstand - outs .
Cambria Hybrids
If taking guardianship ofOdontoglossumorchids feels overpowering , reckon forO.xcambriahybrids .
They ’re a little easier to grow in that they wo n’t give up the touch if you do n’t keep their growing environment just utter .
Cambriais the name for various intercrossed crosses between plants in the formerCochlioda , the formerMiltonia , the formerOdontoglossum , andOncidiumgenera .
While they were n’t include in the original hybrids , forward-looking Cambrias can also let in industrial plant in theBrassiagenus .
Charles Vuylsteke , a grower in Lochristi , Belgium , bred the first Cambria out ofCochlioda , Miltonia , and coolheaded weatherOncidiumin 1911 . The resulting hopeful red and blanched flowered flora was namedO.xvuylstekearain honour of the breeder .
Unlike other cool - weatherOncidiumvarieties , many of these hybrids bloom every nine months rather than per year .
The show of the plants is very diverse – with a kind of different leaf sizes and form , and flower colour and sizes .
Some the great unwashed refer to anyOncidiumalliance hybrids asCambria , but now you know well .
Equitant
Equitant orO.xtolumniaorchids are minor than your typicalOncidiumalliance specimen .
They seldom grow more than eight inches tall and may never need anything bigger than a four - inch pot .
The spring flower spike can be up to 18 inches recollective and come in colors that are strange for orchids such as lavender , orangish , pinkish , brown , burgundy , white , cream , and yellowed .
These orchid stand warmer temperature – up to the high 80s during the day and mid-60s at Nox .
Nobile
O. nobileis a fairly common species on the market , and that ’s sure enough because of its flower stalks , which have clusters of up to 100 extremely fragrant blooms .
They flower in the leaping for weeks and workweek with blossoms in a wide range of colors from white to recondite purple or red .
Managing Pests and Disease
Despite their fussy repute , these orchids are n’t particularlytroubled by pests .
You might seeaphidsorspider hint . Both of these sap - suckers expend their mouthparts to extract the tomfool of orchid and many other houseplant .
Both can be eliminated by spraying them off with a strong flow of water supply and then treating plants with insecticidal liquid ecstasy .
The only disease to care about is root decomposition . It can be due to the fungusRhizoctonia solani , but it ’s usually due to drown the roots in too much pee .
Orchids are notorious for being susceptible to root andcrown rot , andOncidiumspecies are even more so . You absolutely must ensure you do n’t overwater , and you must grow your plant in a well - draining medium , like barque in a flock with drain jam .
You should also be sure to regularly replace the growing medium because it will break down over time , reduce the amount of atomic number 8 that can reach the roots .
hear more about potential orchidaceous plant problems and how to deal with them .
Best Uses for Oncidium Orchids
Most mass opt to grow their orchids in grass , and they attend lovely that way .
The long - lasting bloom and low - lighter tolerance make them complete as a display on dining tables , bookshelves , umber tables , and desks .
But they also grow well mounted on something like Ellen Price Wood or mesh . Not only does it make for an interesting display , but it reduce the probability of the plant catching root rot .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
The Orchid With Teeth
Odontoglossum , Oncidium , Oncidiumalliance , tiger orchids – whatever you call them , they ’re undeniably beautiful plants with long - lasting flowers in striking color .
Interested inmore data about growing orchidaceous plant ? If so , have a read of these guides next :
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Kristine Lofgren
