Oncidium is one of the least whimsical and most ancient species of orchids. How to care for such a plant at home and what it requires for full development - read on.
Botanical description of the plant
The Orchid family is represented by such forms:
- Epiphytes - plants in which not only the ground part, but also the roots are involved in photosynthesis. In the wild, grow on trees.
- Lithophytes - specimens growing on rocks and rock formations. Can form pillows, turfs and creeping shapes.
- Ground - adapted to growth in the soil.
Most representatives of oncidiums are epiphytes. In the natural environment, these orchids are found in various types of forest at an altitude of 0 to 4000 m. They are herbaceous perennials. Rhizome shortened or elongated, depending on the species. The roots of plants are adapted to survive on stony soils and woody foundations. Above the rhizome are pseudobulbs, which are covered by a thin light green cuticle.
Above the pseudobulbs, leaf plates grow. Over each formation grows from 1 to 3 leaves with a dense structure. The leaves are belt-shaped, rounded at the end, smooth on the sides. Oncidiums are classified, depending on the height of growth, into heat-loving and cold-loving. These plants differ in leaf structure: heat-loving - denser, fleshy, cold-loving - thin, delicate.
The height of the ground part of different specimens varies between 10–40 cm. Oncidiums can enter the flowering phase 2 times a year. The exact flowering time is not known, since it completely depends on microclimatic indicators.
This phase lasts 1-2 months. Cut flowers can stand in a vase for up to 3 weeks. Inflorescences are formed from highly branched lashes of a brownish tint. Peduncles can have a length of 10 cm to 5 m. The flowers are arranged very densely. Possess a moderate pleasant, sweet aroma.Did you know? There is a species of orchids growing underground - it is called risentella gardneri. Its shortened thick rhizome comes into symbiosis with bushes located near with the help of a fungus that supplies nutrients from one plant to another.
The main tones in which oncidiums can be colored:
The flowers are distinguished by an interesting shape: a comb formation with short soft pubescence is located above the guitar-shaped lip. In diameter, a fully opened flower can reach 1–12 cm.
House growing conditions
To achieve the flowering of this orchid at home, it is necessary to observe a number of rules, as well as organize a microclimate for the plant that is as close to natural as possible.
Did you know? Orchidaceae arose on Earth about 145 million years ago. They are one of the oldest representatives of the flora.
Location
A flower is demanding on the amount of light. It needs plenty of light, but in the heat of the afternoon, the plant needs shading. The optimal daylight for oncidium is 12-14 hours.
The lack of or an excess of light will be indicated by the state of the foliage:
- change of leaf color to a lighter shade, the appearance of reddish spots and a decrease in density - the flower received a sunburn;
- increased pigmentation and complete absence of flowering - plants lack light.
It is best to place oncidiums in the southeastern part of the house. If it is not possible to place plants in a well-lit place, you need to use phytolamps and organize additional illumination. Orchids do not tolerate drafts, but respond positively to the influx of fresh air, so airing is a mandatory daily activity even in winter.
Temperature mode
To organize the correct temperature regime, you must first study the characteristics of a particular plant and, based on this, monitor the temperature in the room during the summer and winter periods:
- specimens growing in the tropics: in the summer - +25 ... + 30 ° С, in the winter - +15 ... + 18 ° С;
- found in mountain forests and foothills: in summer - +18 ... + 22 ° С, in winter - +12 ... + 15 ° С;
- cold-resistant, found in mountain forests: in summer - no more than + 22 ° С, in winter - +7 ... + 10 ° С.
Plants intended for home cultivation are most often hybrid forms. For them, the temperature must be maintained within +14 ... + 25 ° С all year round.
Air humidity
Orchid oncidium is completely undemanding to environmental humidity. This flower is able to fully develop with humidity in the range of 40–70%.
Spraying air around plants is carried out only in extremely hot conditions, with a decrease in humidity up to 38%. Instead of spraying, you can use air humidifiers, or put pallets with wet charcoal next to the flowers.
Home Care
Oncidium is a plant adapted to survive in adverse conditions. However, when growing this orchid in an apartment environment with a reduced nutrition area, it will be necessary to feed and maintain optimal substrate moisture.
Important! With a decrease in room temperature to + 18 ° C, spraying to the oncidium is contraindicated.
Watering
The moisture content of the substrate is regulated depending on the phases of vegetation. Watering is not carried out until the complete formation of the pseudobulb, otherwise the oncidium will not enter the flowering phase. If the substrate is too dry during this period, replacement of irrigation with spraying is allowed.
From the moment of the presence of a full-fledged pseudobulb and up to the formation of the peduncle, the intensity of hydration should be sharply increased. At different periods of the growing season, the interval between irrigation will be from 3 to 20 days.
Watering is carried out by immersion of a flower pot with a plant in a bowl with standing water, with a temperature similar to the ambient temperature, for 10–20 minutes. After this procedure, the plants are rearranged in a pan. When excess fluid drains, it is drained from the pan and wiped dry.
Top dressing
The introduction of nutrients is carried out only in the phase of active vegetation of shoots. With the beginning of the formation of pseudobuds, top dressing is canceled. Fertilizer application is then resumed in the growth phase of the peduncle and stopped after the opening of the first flower. Top dressing combined with watering. For this, the concentrate is diluted in the required proportion and then added to the water in which the plant will be infused.
As fertilizers, universal preparations intended for orchids are used. They should be diluted in concentrations less than 10 times than described in the instructions. In the phase of root mass gain and vegetation of the terrestrial part, as well as for young specimens, the “Mr. Color - Universal” drug is suitable. At the beginning of the growth of the peduncle and before the appearance of the first flower, you can use the drug "Mr. Color - Orchid." In order not to harm the flowers, root dressing is best combined with foliar.
Spraying with fertilizers on a sheet will be rational in such cases:
- as an alternative to root dressing for damage to the roots;
- with chlorosis, when nutrients need to be delivered to the deciduous part very quickly;
- in the phase of active vegetation of the root system, so as not to provoke a burn of young root processes.
Spraying should be carried out only in cloudy weather or in the presence of high-quality shading. At the time of the procedure, the air temperature should not fall below + 19 ° C and rise above + 27 ° C. It is also worth closing all the windows so that there is no draft.
The working fluid must be sprayed on the outer, inner sides of the leaves and on the roots sticking out of the ground. At the end of the manipulation, you should examine the leafy sinuses and the growth point - they should not have water. The accumulation of fluid in these depressions can lead to decay or the development of fungi.
Pruning
Orchidaceae, including oncidium, do not need pruning. The only case when you need to resort to this manipulation is yellowing of the peduncle. It is shortened to 2-3 cm. If the peduncle remains green, then pruning is not carried out.
Transfer
Transplantation is carried out in several cases:
- the presence of putrefactive processes in the root system;
- loss of structure and nutritional properties of the substrate;
- strong overgrowth of extra shoots.
Important! You need to dive oncidium as rarely as possible. The plant does not tolerate this manipulation.
It is best to transplant plants in March-April.
Pot for oncidium can be selected:
- transparent - if the plant is an epiphyte;
- opaque - for lithophytes and ground specimens.
The bottom of the tank should have a large number of drainage holes. The volume of the pot is selected according to the size of the roots. Soil for plants is bought in specialized stores - the sosbtrat for orchids is suitable, or they are made up on their own.
To prepare a suitable soil you need to mix:
- 10% sand;
- 5% peat;
- 70% of pine bark;
- 15% of charcoal.
Before planting, the substrate must be disinfected. For this, tablets of furatsilin are dissolved in boiling water (1 tablet per 100 ml), the substrate is immersed in boiling water and incubated for 20 minutes. Then it is taken out of the water and proceed to transplantation.
Step-by-step instruction on transplanting an oncidium:
- Remove the flower from the pot.
- Free the roots from the old substrate.
- Remove dried, damaged roots and heavily shriveled pseudobulbs. Powder the slices with powdered activated carbon mixed with Fundazol in a 1: 1 ratio.
- At the bottom of the pot, place expanded clay with a layer of 1 cm.
- Position the root system inside the pot and fill the voids with a substrate. Make sure that the pseudobulbs remain above the ground.
- Leave the plant for a week in the shaded room to allow it to adapt to new soil.
Preparing for flowering and care after it
With the appearance of a peduncle on a plant, you need to carefully monitor:
- air temperature in the room, especially at night - it should not be higher than + 18 ° C;
- watering - strictly after the soil dries up;
- top dressing root and leaf, contributing to the laying of peduncles and accelerating flowering.
Important! During flowering orchids, pseudobulbs can slightly wrinkle - this is a natural process that is not evidence of a deviation in the development of the plant.
After flowering, the oncidium begins a dormant period. At this time, the plant must be moved to a cooler place, organizing there a winter temperature regime in accordance with the characteristics of the flower. Fertilizing during dormancy is not done at all, and watering is carried out by soaking no more than once every 20 days.
Breeding
There are 2 ways to propagate oncidium at home:
- dividing the bush;
- pseudobulbs.
Bush division
It is carried out in the spring, provided that there are at least 6 shoots on the bush, so that in each separated part there are 3 of them. 10 days before dividing and 10 days after it, the oncidium should not be watered, otherwise the slices will begin to rot.
Plants are removed from the soil and cut with the help of a sharp knife into the root system. The division must be carried out so that each part has its own rhizome. Slices must be powdered with charcoal in combination with Fundazole (1: 1). Landing is carried out according to the above scheme.
Jigging pseudobulb
Oncidium has the ability to share independently: the bush releases a new pseudobulb from which the baby is formed. Separation is performed by cutting off the baby from the root system. In this case, all cropping manipulations are carried out similarly to dividing the bush. A pseudobulb does not have to be planted in a separate container - it can be planted next to the mother plant (if there is enough space).
Did you know? Orchids occupy a leading position in fruitfulness - one plant can form up to 4 million seeds over the entire life cycle.
Growing problems
The main problems when growing oncidium:
- lack of flowering;
- diseases
- pests.
All of them, as a rule, are provoked by defects in care.
Why does not bloom
The lack of flowering of this oncidium can be caused by:
- Lack of light - in this case, you need to organize additional illumination with a phytolamp or rearrange the flower on the southern windowsill.
- High or low temperature in the room. Carefully study the characteristics of your plant and adjust the temperature.
- An overabundance of trace elements - excess dosage leads to salinization of the soil and the destruction of rhizomes. The only way out is a transplant into new soil.
Diseases and Pests
Diseases to which the oncidium can be exposed:
- Bacterial rot - the affected areas of the plant must be removed, the sections treated with Fundazol and transplanted into clean soil.
- Root rot - the affected roots of the plant should be removed, treated with Topsil according to the instructions and slightly dried by laying out on a dry towel for 2 hours. Then you need to transplant, and after 10 days - standard watering, adding Topsil to the water.
Compared to other orchids, oncidium is less demanding in care, and when optimal microclimatic conditions are created, it can enter the flowering phase once every 6 months. This plant, strewn with bright flowers, will be an excellent decoration for your windowsill.