Thinking about branching out into oncidiums

[Suzanne17]

I've been doing pretty well with Phals and have recently branched out into Paph and Dendrobium plants- Phals and Paph in the east window, Dendrobium in the west. Now I've been eyeing my small south window. I've been wanting to try oncidium (I'm specifically interested in Mtssa. Shelob "Tolkien" and Sharry Baby). So I have this south windowsill...but it's in a bathroom which is the same one the cat box is in. How sensitive are the plants to odors? I mean, I keep the box clean, but it's still a litter box.

I'm not super married to plants in any one place. I could easily put the dendrobium in the south window and the oncs in the west if the dendrobium would be better suited there. My biggest concern is the shared environment. The bathroom isn't really used at all otherwise but I'm in there every day cleaning and the windowsill is very visible so I'd like to have some plants there. Thanks in advance!

[Dante1709]

Oncidium hybrids, like Sharry baby and Twinkle, are very tough and I don't think they would mind the odors. They aren't too particular about anything really ; just make sure to give it enough water or the leaves get wrinkly.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by Dante1709

Oncidium hybrids, like Sharry baby and Twinkle, are very tough and I don't think they would mind the odors. They aren't too particular about anything really ; just make sure to give it enough water or the leaves get wrinkly.

I ditto. While, I have South East exposures, so lucky... I can't grow Dens well and would not torture orchids needing more light than my situation can supply.

But, you will be able to grow many oncidium hybrids well!!!

[Suzanne17]

Well, after talking to my local grower, I put the Dens in the south window because I can't shade it or move plants back from it- and they can take the heat. The oncs, when I get them in three weeks because I can't help myself and he has Tolkien in spike eeeee!, will go in the west window where I can adjust for shade and direct light.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by Suzanne17

Well, after talking to my local grower, I put the Dens in the south window because I can't shade it or move plants back from it- and they can take the heat. The oncs, when I get them in three weeks because I can't help myself and he has Tolkien in spike eeeee!, will go in the west window where I can adjust for shade and direct light.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Excellent! I can feel you are very sharp and learning every second!

[kimstwin]

I say go for it! I actually had more luck when I started growing orchids with oncidiums. My sharry baby was the first plant I successfully rebloomed.

I posted about a brassia hybrid I have, and a more experienced grower recognized it. It is the orchid you have on order. The post has a pic in the 'orchid lounge' forum if you care to see.

Good luck!

[lotis146]

I got Bratonia Shelob (got as a gift with NoID, though I mean to contact the florist, whom I know, who sold it to sis) for my bday recently and was SOOO excited when she gave it to me. It was in double spike but one spike died off within a day or two of arriving in my environment. However the second is only just now losing a flower but has one new growth.

I've got a variety (small number of various hybrids) of Oncidium types. One I've found pretty straight forward thus far is Oncidium Heaven Scent 'Redolence', which I believe is actually a hybrid of Sharry Baby. It smells great and appears to be a shorter more compact plant than sharry baby. I would recommend it. In fact it grew two more spikes in the last month.

I also have Wilsonara Pacific Passage 'Peach Cobbler', a taller plant with a long spike with pretty yellow & orange flowers. It apparently doesn't like quite as bright of light as other Oncids but mine came in spike, 2 pbulbs, and one new growth which has grown A LOT.

But, my experience is limited, just having branched out this spring. Good luck with your plants! I'll also add i just repotted these two and they don't seem any worse for wear, and actually I repotted Heaven Scent while these last two spikes were developing and the short one still bloomed, the other has grown much taller.

Is it just the Miltassia (I was told is not Bratonia) you ordered or did you indulge!?

[Ferns Daddy]

You will find growing Onc. easy, they don't mind a little abuse, I have around 30 onc. as long as they don't get direct sun they will do well. I water them about every 4 or 5 day because they dry out fast in the heat.

[Suzanne17]

He's got several of the Mtssa. for me to pick from...I think all Tolkein cultivar which is the one I like. And then they have about a million Sharry Baby Sweet Fragrance in various stages- one was in bloom but was easily a 2 foot spike. I would never get it home intact. So I'll pick when I'm there. I'm trying to stick with those two but...you know how it goes. :/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Optimist]

The oncidiums with the thicker roots do better for me, yet suprisingly, my little twinkle has doubled in size. I have nine so far. The only one I lost was the shelob. I was to get a Kenneth Bivins.