How Many Times a Year Does an Oncidium Bloom? Detailed Guide to Care Methods and Post-Bloom Handling
The Oncidium is a perennial herbaceous plant that blooms once a year, generally from10-12months. Its plant is delicate, its flower stems are slender, and its flower shape is unique, closely resembling a flying butterfly, full of dynamism; up close, its form looks like the Chinese"ji"character, so it is also called the auspicious orchid. It is deeply loved by everyone and is very suitable for home cultivation. Note that different varieties and different care regions will also produce certain differences in the blooming period!
Daily Care of Oncidium
Light: Oncidium prefers a well-ventilated semi-shady environment and scattered light, which is beneficial to the plant's blooming, and avoids direct sunlight; in summer it needs appropriate shading. Insufficient light will cause the branches and leaves to grow leggy and become weak and drooping. It is suitable to plant it in an indoor environment with bright scattered light.
Temperature: Oncidium generally generally begins to bloom around October. It likes warmth and cannot tolerate cold. The suitable growing temperature is15degrees to25degrees. It is not suitable to grow in environments with low and very high temperatures18-25°C. In summer, high temperatures require spraying water to cool down and increase humidity. The overwintering temperature is10°C or above.
Watering: Oncidium likes a moist growing environment. During the growing period, it is suitable to keep the potting soil moist, and waterlogging should be avoided. When the air is dry, spray water on the leaves frequently. When half of the soil in the pot is dry, you can slowly water thoroughly around the flower pot, that is, water until water comes out of the hole at the bottom of the pot; when the roots and sphagnum moss turn white and the potting soil becomes light, that is the state in which watering is needed. Be sure to note that water should not accumulate in the leaf center. Soil: It likes loose, well-drained, and strongly water-retentive sphagnum moss, moss, pine bark, coconut coir, etc.
Pruning: After the Oncidium flowers fade, it is necessary to prune off the flower stems that emerge from the base of the plant to prevent nutrient consumption, which is beneficial to blooming the following year.
Fertilizing: If Oncidium is to produce many flowers, it needs sufficient nutrients. It likes fertilizer but avoids concentrated fertilizer. During the growing season, apply a low-concentration organic fertilizer once every half month, or spray the leaves with a concentration of0.05%~0.1%. The focus of fertilizing is between summer and autumn. Generally, the side shoots sent out on both sides of the pseudobulb in summer and autumn are the ones that bloom; the more new side shoots there are, the more flowers there will be. Stop fertilizing in high-temperature seasons or winter; adding phosphorus and potassium fertilizer before blooming can promote blooming and extend the blooming period. Blooming period:10-11months.
Post-Bloom Care for Oncidium
First cut off the faded flower stalk from the base. If conditions permit, you can change to a slightly larger flower pot. Nutrient soil is not needed; sphagnum moss alone is fine. Oncidium blooms on new shoots the following year, so it is essential to supplement nutrients in time. Sprinkle Oncidium-specific orchid fertilizer on it once every three months; when watered, it will be absorbed by the roots without burning the seedlings, letting the new shoots grow strong and sturdy. It can be used for all orchids.