Oncidium orchids considered one of the largest genera in the orchids family and many orchid collectors dedicate large portion of their collections to these beautiful and diverse plants.
There have been many name changes in the Oncidium alliance and being such a large genus ( currently approx 750 varieties) one feels that it will be some time before a stable nomenclature is achieved. There are also many hundreds of handsome hybrids made within the species of this genus and with other closely related genera.
This of course, does not deter orchid growers from enjoying such a beautiful blooms and it gives one possibility of growing them in many colors, textures and scents.
My oncidium orchid is var varicosum and it's one of the first orchids in my collection that starts it's flowering in early autumn and will continue producing it's beautiful, bright yellow blooms for a number of weeks. This species native to Brazil and Bolivia and it flowers in nice clusters. The flower spikes come up from the base of the pseudobulbs and are approx 80 cm long. It likes growing in a free-drain orchid compost in the shade of the trees with a lot of air movement around them. They are easy to grow and because of their cascading flower spikes can be grown in hanging pots or mounted on the tree trunks or slabs.
I love these "dancing ladies" and I wrote myself a few weeeks ago about them too. I am so glad I found your blog again - this time I need to add it to my favourites as you have some great info here and sometimes I would love to link a post of yours to mine.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful, dainty little orchid. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I have a fake one in my office. But, I was scrolling down through your posts to see if you'd posted about the Vanda (I think that's what it is) and I found the most amazing bloom...the Oncidium. Now that's nice! Anyway, I saw what I think is a Vanda (very large purple bloom on a "wall" of green leaves and hanging roots that created a rainforest environment) at an orchid stand...do you have any? What do you know about them? It was $80 so I had to pass, but it was really great!
ReplyDeleteWhen living in New Zealand, 30 some years ago, I was able to grow cymbidium orchids outdoors. I sure do miss those times.
ReplyDeleteHello, thanks for visiting my own blog! I appreciate it, and I am glad to meet a blogger on the other side of the world. I enjoy reading about what other gardeners grow and about various climates. Your orchids are lovely! I look forward to your future posts.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading your post.
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