Oncidium ornithorhynchum - Orchid Board

Kimbubbley · #1 08-22-2011, 04:14 AM

Hi guys! This is my first Onc. which currently has 2spikes which are branching nicely. It also has a 2nd maturing PB which is getting to the point where it may well spike and flower over winter

My question is about winter rest... ISOPHO says "semi-winter rest" can anyone tell me what, when and how this goes??

Many thanks

K

Jennyfleur · #2 08-22-2011, 05:07 AM

Hi

with mine, I only gave it water when the bulbs got really shrivelled. I stop watering end of Oct and start again around mid-Feb. It depends what state the bulbs are in, but, if nice and plump, you could get away with a watering about once a month during rest. You can also mist during resting periods and that helps.

Kimbubbley · #3 08-22-2011, 06:50 AM

Cool

thanks Jenny! I have lovely fat PBs so can reduce watering Oct time and see how it goes. When do u resume watering, when it starts new growth?

K

Jennyfleur · #4 08-22-2011, 07:05 AM

I start increasing water again around mid-feb for all my winter resters

isurus79 · #5 08-22-2011, 08:38 PM

I had this one growing and blooming all year round when I was growing it. This was when I was living in Hawaii, but I would imagine if you can give it warm, bright conditions it shouldn't need a rest.

denvervet · #6 08-25-2011, 01:37 PM

Mine is spiking nicely but its taken months and they have not bloomed yet. I was told this is normal, so be patient!

Larry

Kimbubbley · #7 08-25-2011, 01:53 PM

Trying to be patient but it's teasing me so bad being so close

bit of a dodgy picture... but the span is too big to take with my phone *blushing*

denvervet · #8 08-25-2011, 02:41 PM

What type of light and watering do you have for this plant, just curious. I recently moved mine out of morning sun. Nice pic, mine looks very similar.

Kimbubbley · #9 08-30-2011, 08:12 PM

Hi

sorry for such a slow reply! I'm afraid I'm not very technical with light requirements, I read they will take Catt light so it's been outside all (so called) uk summer. It's been in full light until about 1pm then moved to diffused light under my frosted glass garden table until 5pm when I've come home from work and moved it back into the sun as it goes down. Then I bring it indoors incase it rains (as i said, not very technical I'm afraid :-s )

We've had lovely sunny days until august so full light then, but august has been wet so it's since been in a south facing window 24/7 come rain or shine, and hasn't burnt on the hot days

I found this plant thirsty (compared to my phals) and had minor pleated leaves so found OB while looking for the solution!

since then using skewer method I figured out it needs watering approx every 2-3 days and I leave it to soak for 1/2 hr to an hour because it seems to dry so quickly!

Since then, no more pleated leaves

and beautiful growth and the spikes grew longer again and branched so I've stuck with this method. I also fertilise each watering with half strength "bloom" solution as I thought when growth stalled this might be the issue?

Sorry I can't provide a more technical solution, this and the Catt I bought at the same time are my first step away from my phals, which have always bloomed beautifully for me so I thought I'd try something different

I never knew I had green fingers before now, so as long as the buds don't blast I'm already VERY happy with the outcome

It would be great to hear your experience with your plant... and compare pics!

Kim

denvervet · #10 08-30-2011, 08:36 PM

Thanks Kimbubbly, I agree with what you said. Mine is under a huge skylight now and gets very bright light all day now. It really needs to be watered every 2 days, you are right about things drying out! I don't know what your humidity is but ours is near none! We get more sunshine in Colorado than California, we dont often get a cloudy day. We are a mile high also. I am going to take your advice and water it every two days, one flower spike already blasted, the other three have not yet.

Thanks Again.