How to Grow Oncidium 'Mango' and Key Post-Bloom Care Points

I believe no flower lover can resist an orchid in the sunlight, with mango-colored petals that look as lovely as a lightly applied blush - this is exactly the Oncidium "Mango" variety.

Mango's petals are a fairly heavily waxy variety, and the lip is velvety, giving a very strong tropical feel, and the fragrance it releases also has a papaya scent, making it truly enchanting in every way. Once fully open, the flowers can reach over 5 cm in size, and the inflorescence has a harmonious and neat symmetry; with proper care it can bloom all year round.

So, how should you grow an Oncidium well after bringing it home? First, its care is basically similar to that of Phalaenopsis: it likes a semi-shaded light environment, but it should not be given too little light, because insufficient light easily leads to leggy growth of branches and leaves, making them weak and drooping. Its temperature requirement is 18-30°C. If it exceeds 30°C in summer, it is best to place it in a cool, ventilated spot, while in winter, do not open windows for ventilation during care; once the temperature drops below 10°C, it should be moved indoors for care.

Then regarding watering,  it likes moisture. It is recommended to touch the sphagnum moss with your hand before watering; when you find it is slightly dry, water it thoroughly. In high summer temperatures, you can also spray water to cool the leaves and increase humidity; during high summer heat, it may need watering once in the morning and once in the evening. In addition, if the roots and sphagnum moss turn white and the potting medium becomes lighter, that is the time to water, but in this situation there must absolutely be no waterlogging. As for fertilizing, it likes fertilizer, but fertilizer must be applied lightly; during the germination and growth period, you can give phosphorus or potassium organic fertilizer once every half month, and in winter and summer it is recommended to stop fertilizing.

Finally, of course, is what flower lovers care about most: after the Mango flowers fade, how should we care for it? In fact, just like Phalaenopsis, first cut off the spent flower spike from the base, then place it on a windowsill at around 20°C that must be bright and warm. If the balcony faces west, just be careful not to let the leaves get sunburned. After that, as long as the temperature can reach above 18°C, you can fertilize the plant (Peters Professional No. 1, fertilizer diluted 1:2000); the subsequent key point for watering is simply to keep it in a slightly moist state.