Prima ballerina

[Sun rm.N.E.]

I can't believe it was named Onc. John Louis Shirrah
'Profusion' The lip looks like the most delicately pleated silk skirt which it gets from hyphaematicum. A true dancing lady orchid.

It is a primary hybrid of Onc. ornithorhynchum and Onc. hyphaematicum, my favorite oncidium hybrid. The fragrance is unique with delicate floral notes and reminds me of Linden flowers. The third picture is the somewhat similar Onc. Sharry Baby for comparison. The difference in the shape of the lips and the bright yellow callus is obvious.

It has been in water culture for 3+ years.

[CoolPhrog]

Water culture huh? Intersting method I've been reading about!!! Great flowers!

[betoguerrero]

BEautifull... the color is wonderfull!!

[Ranchnanny]

Wow! I love it its beautiful. I am trying to understand how to grow orchids in water. Why don't the roots rot? I have all my 'chids' in s/h medium. Are these in a GH?

Another one for my wish list.

Sheridan

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Sheridan

The old roots do rot eventually but most plants grow new water tolerant roots. I initially cut off all but perfectly healthy roots, clean with physan or peroxide before putting them in the solution and remove all dying roots as soon as they show signs of rot.

I really prefer s/h. It requires less work and you can go on vacation without a sitter. Water culture requires almost daily attention since you may have top it off daily to keep the roots covered. However, I find it helpful to clean up plants with root rot and to develop water tolerant new roots in my lower humidity conditions since I grow in the house.

I also find that some big ones like Onc Sharry Baby grow best in water culture and they are easier to lift than the massive S/H pot they would require to keep them blooming. In water culture they bloom with only 2 or 3 mature bulbs and there is no setback when I divide them.

[Ranchnanny]

Sun Rn NE do you think water culture would work for other types of Onc's? I have 3 that refuse to bloom I'll try anything.

Sheridan

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Hi Sheridan

I don't know your growing conditions and how much light your plants are getting. Let me tell you mine. I have attached a shallow greenhouse structure to the second floor study of my townhouse so the plants get light on the entire east side as well as from the top. I still find that I have to use supplemental lights from Sept. to April in the North East to have my Oncidiums and Catts bloom in the Winter which is why I grow them. I simply use 4 inexpensive compact fluorescent Shoplights (65watts), same unit from Lights of America as their porch lights but plug-in type, and run them 14-16 hours a day. I have limited room so I give away the ones that only bloom in the Summer which is Rose-time for me.

I also found that some Oncidiums are better bloomers in the house than others. I even found a big difference with 5 different clones of Onc. Sharry Baby. My 'Short Sharry' and 'Sweet fragrance' clones bloomed on every new lead even without supplemental light in a South-facing window for years and the 'Two Color'. 'Fantasy' and 'Red Fantasy' clones needed lots more light to bloom. I think luck has a lot to do with it even if we try to choose plants that are likely to tolerate our conditions if when we buy plants that have been mass-produced very quickly under optimal conditions and stressed to bloom.

As far as trying water culture, the roots in S/H are more water tolerant then those in bark and would last longer initially in water culture but you would probably have to wait for new growth with new roots to regain full strength which would postpone the blooming.

[Ranchnanny]

Sun rm NE I have mine in an east window and they also get light from two large skylights. Once I get my GH up and operational I will be using lights in it so that should help getting them to bloom. Thanks so much for the information.

Sherry

[Sandy4453]

Every time I see your blooms and read your comments on water culture, I'm so impressed and curious. You articulate your growing method precisely (thank you!) and, although probably not difficult to adopt, I'm sure there's more to grasp and learn intuitively, as you go along, than just doing it. I've never known anyone else to raise their orchids the way you do, your methods are defintely, unique!

I always enjoy reading your posts, Sun rm.N.E.