A Detailed Guide to Oncidium Planting Methods and Care Techniques

Oncidium (Oncidium hybridum), also known as the auspicious orchid, dancing orchid, dancing-lady orchid, golden butterfly orchid, tuberculate-lipped orchid, etc., has 1 to 3 leaves and can be divided into thin-leaved species, thick-leaved species and sword-leaved species. It is the general name for plants of the genus Oncidium in the orchid family. This genus has more than 750 native species worldwide, while the diverse commercial varieties are mostly hybrids. The plants are light and elegant, the flower stems slender and drooping, and the flowers strange and lovely, shaped like flying golden butterflies, full of movement; it is one of the world's important potted flower and cut flower types.

Cultivation Techniques

The most suitable growing temperature for Oncidium is 18 to 25 degrees Celsius. It should not be grown in an environment that is too cold. When the temperature is below 10°C, Oncidium will be harmed, but for some varieties that are less tolerant of low temperatures, when the temperature is 12°C, they will wither and die from cold damage. However, under high-temperature conditions, Oncidium must be in a well-ventilated environment to pass through safely. Therefore, in summer, attention should be paid to shading, and when the temperature is too high, it should be cooled promptly. During the seedling recovery stage, the daytime temperature is 25 to 28°C and the nighttime temperature is 23 to 25°C. Temperature changes should not be too warm, otherwise it easily causes bud drop. 40% roots, 10% peat soil, 20% crushed charcoal, 20% vermiculite, 10% sphagnum moss. When planting, use crushed stone or broken bricks to line about 1/3 of the bottom of the flower pot, which is beneficial to ventilation and drainage. Flowering plants are best planted after the flowers fade, and non-flowering plants before sprouting, which is beneficial to the growth of new Oncidium roots. May to October is the vigorous growth period of Oncidium, with fertilizer applied once every half month. During the winter dormant period, fertilization and watering can be stopped, and spraying water can be increased to raise air humidity. Liquid fertilizer is seriously lost, so every half month 0.05% to 0.1% compound fertilizer can be sprayed on the leaves as a supplement. After flowering, faded flower stems and dead leaves should be removed promptly. Oncidium is basically grown in pots. The potting medium is similar to that for Phalaenopsis. Such as sphagnum moss, crushed fern roots, wood chips, charcoal, perlite, broken bricks, peat soil, etc. These medium combinations have good effects; for example, a mixture of 40% fine fern roots, 10% peat soil, 20% charcoal, 20% perlite or vermiculite, and 10% crushed stone and broken bricks has a good effect. When planting, use crushed stone or broken bricks to line about 1/3 of the bottom of the flower pot to facilitate ventilation and drainage. The flower pots used for cultivation can be plastic pots, unglazed clay pots, porcelain pots, etc. For Oncidium cultivated for more than 2 to 3 years, the plant gradually grows larger and produces small offsets, and the root system becomes overfull, so it must be repotted promptly. Repotting is usually carried out after flowering; for non-flowering plants, it can be chosen before the growth period. Ventilation Good air circulation is a necessary condition when cultivating orchids, and Oncidium is no exception, especially lines with pseudobulbs and thin leaves, as a stuffy, hot environment easily causes disease. Taiwan, China's summer temperature is somewhat too hot for Oncidium; besides sprinkling water around the cultivation environment, the solution is also to strengthen ventilation to help the orchid plants cool down.