Help me identify my new orchid gift

[Mercurianmad]

Hey there everyone! My husband just got me an anniversary present of a mystery orchid from the nursery in town. They don’t know what kind it is. I know it’s not a phanaenopsis, as I already have two.

Can you help me identify it so I can figure out how to take care of it?

Since I only have experience taking care of moth orchids could you also give me some pointers on how to care for them in terms of watering, soil mix, fertilizing, sun placement, air flow? Whatever you can tell me.

Thank you!

[Mercurianmad]

My thought just by looking at some pictures on the internet is that it’s a cattalya or an oncidium. My husband says the nursery said it produces a lot of little yellow flowers

[Keysguy]

Oncidium alliance of some sort. We'll all know more when it blooms but it's more than likely one of the thousands of hybrids.

[SouthPark]

MM ..... see the particular shape of those bulbs, with relatively thin and long leaf protruding? That would suggest a oncidium (or along those lines) orchid.

[Mercurianmad]

Thanks everyone! Im going to figure out how to care for it now☺️

---------- Post added at 12:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 PM ----------

Do you guys think I should keep this tie on the plant of cut it off?

[SouthPark]

MM - each grower has their own media or media(s) of choice. I've been using scoria (lava rock) which has been working very nicely for oncidium (as well as paphiopedilum, phragmipedium, encyclia, cattleya, dendrobium, angraecum, and also fair recently - catasetum).

---------- Post added at 05:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:49 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Mercurianmad

]Do you guys think I should keep this tie on the plant of cut it off?

You can remove the tie if you want. And you can even re-use the skewer/tie at any stage in the future.

[Mercurianmad]

Thanks guys! One more question. I’ve seen some different information online about the light requirements for oncidium. Some sources say they like bright indirect sunlight and some sources that say they like full sun. Would they be OK in the south east facing window that my phalaenopsis are in? That’s a full day of sun with a shade cloth over the window to defuse the light

[SouthPark]

It often depends on their conditioning. If they are gradually hardened to withstand direct sunlight, and may even grow well in direct sun. But there may be some parts of the year where the sun light could get so strong, that it could possibly scorch the leaves, flowers etc.

Shade cloth over the window should be quite ok. Provide some air-movement in the growing environment too.

[Mercurianmad]

Ok! Thank you. Based on all of this I will repot in a lava rock/bark mixture and a nice slotted pot. I guess this orchid can also be divided? Should I do this now? Or is it supposed to grow like this? Attaching a picture of the plant.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Mercurianmad

Ok! Thank you. Based on all of this I will repot in a lava rock/bark mixture and a nice slotted pot. I guess this orchid can also be divided? Should I do this now? Or is it supposed to grow like this? Attaching a picture of the plant.

It could be divided. Normally - people wait until it has lots of bulbs - such as say 8. Even 6 should be ok.

Dividing can be good. Making 'back-ups' is often good insurance.

Also - make sure that the temperature in the growing environment doesn't get too cold. Maintain recommended temperature range for the orchid. I'm guessing the temperature in your home should be quite ok. But just in case!