Ok not sure of the name on this one… I got this from my daughter’s boyfriend as a birthday present in September and it didn’t have a name tag. It was in full bloom. The flowers are a bright yellow with splotches of maroon near and around the lip. I’m not sure where he got it from but was grateful for the present. Any orchid as a present is an awesome present :). Since then, this is its second bloom and it essentially “took off” with two full size spikes of flowers. This bloomed late December when most of my other orchids weren’t blooming, so I was excited to see it blooming again so soon. I used Microsoft Bing to do a visual look up on my picture of the flower and two possible species came up one a hybrid of the other. The parent species is Oncidesa Aloha Iwanaga. The child is the Sweet Sugar ‘Million Dollar’. Honestly, I’m not seeing much variation in the two so I’m not sure which one it is. There is also a child hybrid variant of the same parent called ‘Lemon Drop’ which is all yellow.
Let’s talk a little bit about Oncidiums. I found out that Oncidium’s are nicknamed the Dancing Lady because their ruffled petals look like a dancer’s skirt. What’s an Oncidium Orchid? I first mentioned them in my “Chocolate” Orchid Post and you can read about the plants characteristics there. Oncidiums are one of the easiest group of orchids to grow here in South Florida. Querying Oncidium orchid care outdoors, this is the AI generated response below.
To care for an Oncidium orchid outdoors, ensure it receives bright, filtered light, maintain a warm temperature range between 75-85°F during the day and 60-65°F at night, provide high humidity (at least 40%), water regularly to keep the medium slightly moist, and protect from strong winds and direct midday sun; be sure to bring it indoors if temperatures drop significantly below 50°F.
Key points for outdoor Oncidium care:
- Light: Place your Oncidium in a spot with bright, indirect sunlight; avoid direct midday sun which can burn the leaves.
- Temperature: Ideal daytime temperatures are between 75-85°F, with cooler nighttime temperatures around 60-65°F.
- Humidity: Oncidiums thrive in high humidity, so consider using a pebble tray or misting the leaves regularly.
- Watering: Water consistently to keep the potting medium slightly moist, but allow it to dry out slightly between waterings.
- Air circulation: Ensure good air movement around the plant to prevent fungal issues.
- Winter protection: In colder climates, bring your Oncidium indoors when temperatures drop below 50°F.
Important considerations:
- Potting medium: Use a well-draining orchid mix designed for epiphytes, allowing for good air circulation around the roots.
- Fertilizing: Feed with a diluted orchid fertilizer during the active growing season.
- Repotting: Repot your Oncidium every 2-3 years, ideally when new growth appears.
- Monitoring for pests: Regularly check for common orchid pests like mealybugs and scale.
