How to Grow and Care for Oncidium (Dancing Lady Orchid, Golden Shower Orchid)

       Oncidium originates from the United States, Mexico, Guyana, and Peru. Oncidium, also known as the dancing lady orchid, golden shower orchid, and warty-lipped orchid, is the general name for plants in the genus Oncidium of the orchid family. This genus has more than 750 native species worldwide. The thick-leaved type (also called the hard-leaved type) of Oncidium prefers warm environments, while the thin-leaved type (also called the soft-leaved type) and the sword-leaved type of Oncidium prefer cool climates. The optimal growing temperature for the thick-leaved type of Oncidium is 18-25°C, and the winter temperature should not fall below 12°C. The optimal growing temperature for the thin-leaved type is 10-22°C, and the winter temperature should not fall below 8°C.

Oncidium prefers humid and semi-shaded environments. In addition to watering to increase the moisture of the growing medium, spraying water on the leaves and the ground is even more important; increasing air humidity is more beneficial to the growth of leaves and flower stems. Hard-leaved varieties have strong drought tolerance; they do not dry out and die even when not watered for a long time in winter, showing very strong endurance. Large-scale production requires shade netting, with a shading rate of 40%-50% being suitable. In winter, sufficient sunlight is needed, and shade netting is generally not used, which is beneficial for flowering. Use fern roots, moss, volcanic ash, bark chunks, etc. for potting or bed cultivation. Thin-leaved species have thinner leaves, slightly leathery, and most plants grow robustly, suitable for cultivation in intermediate-temperature greenhouses; thick-leaved species have strong drought tolerance and will not die from drought even if not watered for dozens of days in winter in a greenhouse; sword-leaved species have a smaller plant size and are suitable for home cultivation. Article source: Yuhuagu Flower Growing Network

        Most types of Oncidium are grown in pots. When planting, use crushed stone or broken bricks to line about one-third of the bottom of the pot to facilitate aeration and drainage. Pots for cultivation can be plastic pots, unglazed clay pots, porcelain pots, etc. For Oncidium cultivated for 2-3 years or more, the plant gradually grows larger and produces small shoots, and the root system becomes overcrowded, so it should be repotted in time. Repotting is usually done after flowering; for plants that have not flowered, it can be done before the growth period, such as in early spring or after the weather turns cool in autumn. The growing material should be replaced at the same time, and repotting can be combined with division. In summer, pay attention to shading, and cool down promptly when the temperature is too high. In midsummer and autumn, water thoroughly once a day, that is, water until water comes out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. For fertilizing, compound fertilizer is best; use light fertilizer, avoid concentrated fertilizer, and fertilize in the early morning or after 3 p.m. July and August are the period when the plant sends up flower spikes. During this period, due to high temperature and high humidity, bacterial soft rot is likely to occur, which can cause plant death in severe cases. For this reason, you can dry the growing material in the pot on sunny days, so that bacteria are less likely to multiply under dry conditions, and at the same time, promptly cut off rotten leaves and stems. Before entering the high-temperature, high-humidity season, fertilization should be strengthened, especially by increasing the proportion of potassium fertilizer, to cultivate strong seedlings and enhance the plant's disease resistance.