A Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Methods for Oncidium
Oncidium is an extremely beautiful orchid with great ornamental value, also known as the lucky orchid, dancing lady orchid, golden butterfly orchid, etc. It is the general name for plants of the genus Oncidium in the orchid family. There are as many as more than 750 native species worldwide, and the commercially used varieties in all their diverse forms are mostly hybrids. It is suitable for vase arrangements in homes and offices, and is also a high-grade material for making bouquets and small flower baskets. Let us take a look below at the cultivation methods for Oncidium!
Growth Habits of Oncidium
Oncidium is native to the United States, Mexico, Guyana and Peru. The thick-leaf type prefers a warm environment, with an optimum growth temperature of 18-25°C, and the winter temperature should not fall below 12°C. The thin-leaf type and sword-leaf type Oncidium prefer a cool climate, with an optimum growth temperature of 10-22°C, and the winter temperature should not fall below 8°C. They like a humid and semi-shaded environment. 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 favorable for the growth of leaves and flower stems.
Propagation Methods of Oncidium
Oncidium is a sympodial type of tropical orchid. After the plant matures, it will grow daughter plants, and once the daughter plants have pseudobulbs, they can be cut away from the mother plant. Cut off a pseudobulb with 2 buds and plant it directly in a pot of sphagnum moss, maintaining relatively high air humidity, and it will soon recover, sprout new shoots and grow new roots. Division propagation is generally carried out after flowering or in spring and autumn. It is best to divide the plants in spring before new shoots sprout, combined with repotting.
Cultivation Methods of Oncidium
1. Soil: Oncidium likes a relatively dry environment. A layer of broken tiles and broken bricks can be placed at the bottom of the pot. The growing medium should be one with good drainage and air permeability. You can mix 4 parts crushed fern roots, 1 part peat soil, 2 parts crushed charcoal, 2 parts vermiculite and 1 part sphagnum moss.
2. Light: Oncidium likes a semi-shaded environment. Generally, it should receive sufficient direct sunlight in winter, which is favorable for the plant to bloom. In other seasons, shading measures should be taken to avoid scorching the leaves, and a shading rate of 40-50% is more suitable.
3. Temperature: Oncidium should not be grown in a relatively low-temperature environment. The thick-leaf type Oncidium should be grown at a temperature not lower than 12°C, with an optimum growth temperature of 18-25°C. The thin-leaf type Oncidium should be grown at a temperature not lower than 8°C, with an optimum growth temperature of 10-22°C.
4. Water: Oncidium likes dryness. When the soil surface is relatively dry, it should be watered thoroughly. During its growing season, the amount of watering should be increased, and it can be watered once each in the morning and evening. In winter, the amount and frequency should be reduced, which can promote flowering. When the temperature is below 10°C, watering should be stopped.
5. Fertilizing: From spring to autumn, apply a low-concentration compound fertilizer with a nitrogen:phosphorus:potassium ratio of 1:1:1 about once every 20 days, or spray the leaves with a concentration of 0.05-0.1%. Do not fertilize when the temperature is low in winter.
Precautions for Oncidium
1. When cultivating Oncidium, normally wait until the growing medium is about half dry before watering again. It likes high air humidity, so during dry periods, spray water on the leaves frequently. It is best to place the flower pot on a shallow dish filled with pebbles and water.
2. Oncidium is usually repotted after flowering. For plants that have not bloomed, 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.
3. When cultivating Oncidium in summer, pay attention to shading, and cool it 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.