CATDOLL : CATDOLL: Planting of Spider Orchid

Planting spider orchid

Bulbous plants do not need to be grafted, and they cannot be grafted. Spider orchids are like this when they are first planted. They will soon grow new leaves and become very beautiful after a few months.

About the cultivation method of mini Oncidium...

Planting of Mini Oncidium

1. Growth habits:

The thick-leafed Oncidium has a growth habit similar to that of Cattleya or Phalaenopsis. The thin-leafed Oncidium prefers cool weather and has a growth habit similar to that of Odontoglossum and Spider Orchid. It is not resistant to high temperatures and is prone to disease if ventilation is poor and it is stuffy, causing the leaves to turn yellow and shrink.

2. Location:

Thick-leaved Oncidiums are strong and can be grown in places where Cattleya, Phalaenopsis or Dendrobium are usually grown. Thin-leaved Oncidiums require a greenhouse in addition to an orchid shed to prevent cold snaps.

3. Rizhao:

The light that Oncidium adapts to is very similar to that of Cattleya. The orchid shed can use shading nets to adjust the light, and the shading rate is about 40-50%. It is best to increase the light in winter, as stronger light will help flowering.

4. Temperature:

Thick-leafed Oncidium prefers a warm environment, with an optimum temperature of about 18-25 degrees. If the temperature is below 12 degrees, prevent cold damage. Thin-leafed Oncidium prefers a cooler environment, with an optimum temperature of about 10-22 degrees. There are even more cold-resistant species, but if there is a cold front in winter, they must also overwinter in a greenhouse.

5. Humidity:

In addition to watering when the planting material is dry, the humidity of the air is also very important. If you cultivate it on the roof or balcony, you must pay attention to ways to increase the humidity in the air. The moisture gradually decreases in winter, which is conducive to flowering.

6. Planting tools:

Plastic pots of uniform specifications are used for planting, including varieties with vigorous aerial root growth. Snake wood boards, snake wood columns, wooden blocks and other planting materials can also be used.

7. Planting material:

The planting materials are all aquatic plants, and other materials such as tree bark, forest charcoal, etc. can also be mixed. After mixing, the growth of planting is good.

8. Implantation method:

When planting aquatic plants, press the pots to about 2/3 of their volume moderately. For flowering plants, it is best to repot them immediately after the flowers fade. For those that have not yet bloomed, you can choose to repot them before the growing season, such as autumn or early spring.

9. Reproduction:

Oncidium can be propagated by sterile sowing, tissue culture, and division. Most compound-stem plants will grow more stems and leaves after they mature, and can be cut and planted as new plants. The method is the same as that for Cattleya. Spring and autumn are the suitable seasons for division.

10. Fertilizer:

A small amount of slow-release fertilizer can be added to the potting material. Usually, 500-1000 times of water-soluble quick-release fertilizer is used. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be gradually increased in the later stage of the growth period to promote flower bud differentiation and flowering.

Scientific name: Oncidium (abbreviated as Onc.)

Other names: Dancing orchid, golden butterfly orchid, tubercles orchid

Family: Orchidaceae, Oncidium

Category: Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids

Oncidium, also known as dancing orchid, golden butterfly orchid, and knob-petal orchid, is a general term for plants of the genus Oncidium in the Orchidaceae family. There are more than 750 native species of this genus in the world, and the various commercial species used commercially are mostly hybrids.

Origin Distribution

The original species of Oncidium is native to the tropical regions of America, with the largest number of species distributed in countries such as Brazil, the United States, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, etc. However, its distribution area is relatively wide, including tropical, warm, alpine temperate and cold zones.

Watch Application

Oncidium is an extremely beautiful and ornamental orchid. It is one of the important cut orchid varieties in the world. It is suitable for vase arrangement in home rooms and offices. It is also a high-end flower material for making bouquets and small flower baskets. It is now cultivated all over the world.

Morphological characteristics

Its morphology varies greatly. Its pseudobulbs are flat and oval, and relatively large, but some species do not have pseudobulbs. There are 1 to 3 leaves, which can be divided into thin-leaf species, thick-leaf species, and sword-leaf species. Generally, there is only one flower stalk on a pseudobulb, and some species may have two sturdy flower stalks. Some species have only 1 to 2 flowers on a flower stalk, while some species have hundreds of flowers. For example, a small flower species used as cut flowers has dozens of flowers on one branch, and several branches have hundreds of flowers. Its flowers are brightly colored, resembling flying golden butterflies and dancing girls, so it is also called golden butterfly or dancing girl orchid. The colors of Oncidium orchid are mainly yellow and brown, and there are also green, white, red, and magenta. Its size ranges from very small, such as miniature Oncidium, to very large, with a flower diameter of more than 12 cm. The structure of the flower is extremely special. The sepals of the calyx are equal in size, and the petals are almost equal to or slightly larger than the dorsal calyx. The lip of the flower is usually three-lobed, large or small, and violin-shaped. There is a ridge-like protrusion at the base of the middle lobe, and there are small raised spots on the ridge, which is quite peculiar, hence the name tubercle-petal orchid.

Growth habit

Thick-leafed species prefer warmth, while thin-leafed species prefer coolness. Use fern roots, mosses, volcanic ash, bark blocks, etc. for potting or planting beds. Thin-leafed species have thinner leaves and are slightly leathery. Most plants grow robustly and are suitable for medium-temperature greenhouse cultivation. Thick-leafed species have strong drought resistance and will not die from drought even if they are not watered for dozens of days in the greenhouse in winter. Sword-leafed species are smaller in size and are suitable for home cultivation.

"Mini Oncidium" is easy to cultivate locally and blooms easily. Its nature is the same as that of general medium-high temperature parasitic orchids. It can be grown on snake boards. Features: Stick planting, cultivation method is similar to Phalaenopsis and Cattleya.

The thick-leafed Oncidium has a growth habit similar to that of Cattleya or Phalaenopsis. The thin-leafed Oncidium prefers cool weather and has a growth habit similar to that of Odontoglossum and Spider Orchid. It is not resistant to high temperatures and is prone to disease if ventilation is poor and it is stuffy, causing the leaves to turn yellow and shrink.

2. Location:

Thick-leaved Oncidiums are strong and can be grown in places where Cattleya, Phalaenopsis or Dendrobium are usually grown. Thin-leaved Oncidiums require a greenhouse in addition to an orchid shed to prevent cold snaps.

3. Rizhao:

The light that Oncidium adapts to is very similar to that of Cattleya. The orchid shed can use shading nets to adjust the light, and the shading rate is about 40-50%. It is best to increase the light in winter, as stronger light will help flowering.

4. Temperature:

Thick-leafed Oncidium prefers a warm environment, with an optimum temperature of about 18-25 degrees. If the temperature is below 12 degrees, prevent cold damage. Thin-leafed Oncidium prefers a cooler environment, with an optimum temperature of about 10-22 degrees. There are even more cold-resistant species, but if there is a cold front in winter, they must also overwinter in a greenhouse.

5. Humidity:

In addition to watering when the planting material is dry, the humidity of the air is also very important. If you cultivate it on the roof or balcony, you must pay attention to ways to increase the humidity in the air. The moisture gradually decreases in winter, which is conducive to flowering.

6. Planting tools:

Plastic pots of uniform specifications are used for planting, including varieties with vigorous aerial root growth. Snake wood boards, snake wood columns, wooden blocks and other planting materials can also be used.

7. Planting material:

The planting materials are all aquatic plants, and other materials such as tree bark, forest charcoal, etc. can also be mixed. After mixing, the growth of planting is good.

8. Implantation method:

When planting aquatic plants, press the pots to about 2/3 of their volume moderately. For flowering plants, it is best to repot them immediately after the flowers fade. For those that have not yet bloomed, you can choose to repot them before the growing season, such as autumn or early spring.

9. Reproduction:

Oncidium can be propagated by sterile sowing, tissue culture, and division. Most compound-stem plants will grow more stems and leaves after they mature, and can be cut and planted as new plants. The method is the same as that for Cattleya. Spring and autumn are the suitable seasons for division.

10. Fertilizer:

A small amount of slow-release fertilizer can be added to the potting material. Usually, 500-1000 times of water-soluble quick-release fertilizer is used. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be gradually increased in the later stage of the growth period to promote flower bud differentiation and flowering.

Mini Oncidium is easy to care for and is not susceptible to diseases and pests. Its flowers are very fragrant and it is easy to survive the summer and winter and it is easy to re-flower, making it very suitable for indoor placement.

Mini Oncidium is not resistant to low temperatures, but in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, it is generally okay to spend the winter indoors (except for cold waves). The optimum temperature for the growth of Mini Oncidium is 18°C ​​to 25°C. If the indoor temperature is too high, ventilation must be carried out in time, as stuffiness can easily cause diseases and insect pests.

For the medium, you can wrap the roots with sphagnum moss and fix them with bark. Mini Oncidium likes a humid environment. It can be watered every two or three days. When the indoor temperature is high, water it once a day. When watering, you can spray water on the leaves and around the flowerpot to increase the humidity.

Mini Oncidium Oncidium prefers a semi-shady environment and can be placed in a place with scattered light indoors, but it cannot be placed in a dark place for a long time, otherwise the branches and leaves will grow too long, affecting the differentiation of flower buds. In summer, the sun is strong, so it should not be placed on a balcony with direct sunlight.

Mini Oncidium needs to be repotted every year, and the culture medium should be replaced at the same time. The medium is generally made of moss with good water permeability, and can also be made of bark, peat and other materials.

Mini Oncidium can use a small amount of slow-release fertilizer as base fertilizer, and gradually increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the growing period to promote flower bud differentiation and flowering. When it is not flowering, apply an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer every month, and stop fertilizing during the flowering period.

For more information about the flower language of Oncidium, you can go to the Oncidium Flower Language website for details!

The thick-leaf variety has thicker leaves that feel fleshy, while the thin-leaf variety has thinner leaves that are slightly leathery.