Oncidium, paph and epi catt questions!

[leslieann79]

So are the twinkles even smaller than that? Shorter?

[kindrag23]

Originally Posted by leslieann79

So are the twinkles even smaller than that? Shorter?

Mine were. The biggest phulb I had was a about the size of a quarter smaller were dime sized and smaller.

[Paphluvr]

"2. I have one paph and its putting out two new growths. Do they only bloom from new growth ?What happens to the old growth. "


To answer question #2, as answered previously, yes, they only bloom once per growth although some are sequential bloomers with more than one flower/spike. The old growths will continue to provide energy for the plant and may persist for several years depending on the plant and your culture. It will eventually die and can be removed when repotting. Old, dry leaves can be removed singly as they die if they separate easily.

[debrasoon]

Hi my twinkle is tiny too. I have been having problems trying to get it to rebloom. Not sure why. Any tips anyone? There are new pseudobulbs. Does it only bloom from new bulbs or can it also bloom from the old ones?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kindrag23]

I would like to know as well....mine did wonderful all winter then a month ago kaputnick..dead as a door nail...I will be hunting for a new one in a few weeks. Would love to know how to keep this one alive!

[Bill U.]

I would agree that Onc. Tsiku marguerite may be a possibility in comparison to that toaster, but they are very, very similar. I only have a Tsiku in my collection, but in comparing that size to mine, it looks to be about right. I have found that Twinkles are much smaller in pb size and length of the leaves that the pbs produce.

As for particular culture for Twinkle, I am not sure, but I have had nothing but success with my Tsiku in S/H, getting 12-15 hrs of 1600 lumen (~1600fc) lighting that supplements late afternoon sun (in a slightly shaded West window). I fertilize at approximately 50ppm Nitrogen with every watering or if I forget a week, then it just gets water I also give it a treatment of Maxicrop seaweed supplement for root production and overall growth about once a month or so. My temps are normally between 68-75ish °F. I have gotten lots of lovely spikes and blooms, despite the changes in conditions that it receives when I am home on break from college- one of the easiest orchids I grow! LOVE it!

As for blooming questions- oncidiums will only bloom from new bulbs that are produced after each growing "season" (whenever the new bulb matures). The old bulbs, if unbloomed, will not normally bloom if there are new growths- it has been turned into a storage unit of water and nutrients in case the plant encounters adverse conditions (drought, lack of nutrients, etc.).

[leslieann79]

Well I ordered a twinkle. I'm very excited about it. I find the pseudobulbs of onc's very enchanting.What gave me pause initially was the potential size and that I have no idea how to seperate the plants or whatever you have to do when they get huge. Plus I wasnt sure about them in s/h but I figure since the catts do well in s/h it should do fine. Then I thought about it and really catt's get big too and that didnt stop me from having them.

[NYCorchidman]

I had twinkles of all colors. White one (strongest fragrance of three color forms), yellow one, and red one. My least favorite was the red one. The tone of red was well, to say the least, way off. hahaha

I have a thing for yellow flowers, so the yellow variety is my favorite, but white one with yellow centers are also great!

As mentioned above, twinkles are super easy.
Well, I know that is a relative term, but if you grow and can bloom the common yellow dancing lady (or pretty much any oncidium hybrids or even phalaenopsis), you can treat them pretty much the same way.

You will get tons of flowers when they are given the maximum light just short of burning. I had mine out in very strong light so that the leaves began to turn slightly yellow. Then I moved it to a lesser light to keep it from getting burned. Shortly after that, it gave me tones of spikes.

Twinkles are quite quick to form a specimen size as well. Great plant!