What is the 'easiest' oncidium or ondonto to grow? - Orchid Board

greenpassion · #1 11-07-2011, 10:35 PM

I just love love oncidiums and ondontoglossums,

but I worry about not having light from windows. I have several phals and what look like oncidiums under lights, and so far they're all doing fine. But, I want a Sherry Baby!!!! and the ones called Toulin---?? I can't spell it! And I so want a mini oncidium or ondontoglossum...Is this dream possible?

WhiteRabbit · #2 11-07-2011, 11:26 PM

What directions do your windows face? Are the shaded, or not? Orchids will need to be very close to the windows, sitting on the sills, to blooms.
I grow a number of orchids on windowsills, it definitely can be done

Quote:

and the ones called Toulin---?? I can't spell it!

... Tolumnia ? can be grown in a very bright window - mine are in south facing window in winter, outside or in a fairly bright west facing window mid-spring thru fall.

My Sharry Baby takes a fair amount of light in summer - but I don't know how much it actually needs to bloom (I've seen a few members post about Sharry Baby not blooming, and the general consensus is more light is needed)- might be ok in a very bright east or west facing window - they do turn into monsters quickly.

For small Oncidiums - a Twinkle sounds right up your alley - they stay pretty small, mine have bloomed in a rather shady west facing window - most of them have a lovely fragrance. In my experience, these like media to become dry before watering, unlike most other Oncidiums I have had. I've rotted a couple Twinkles

I don't know much about the genus Odontoglossum, tho have had several intergenerics with an Odont parent. Most of the Oncidium alliance intergeneric hybrids should be good beginner plants. A few with Odont parent may like to be a bit cool in winter - 55-65F, but the complex intergenerics, even with an Odont parent, probably would be fine warmer. Again, an east or west facing window is probably fine, and I have bloomed a couple (Odontioda and Goodaleara) in pretty low light windows -Odontioda in a north window, Goodaleara in winter in a southfacing bathroom window with the thick frosted glass, and south clear glass window in summer. Odontioda, both parents are probably cool growers, and the cooler temps in winter may be needed.

I just love the Oncidium alliance, many good windowsill growers here! (some, but definitely not all, just get quite large)

plantaholic · #3 11-08-2011, 01:32 AM

I think Sharry Baby is the easiest. Course, I put mine on the front porch over the summer (north facing, shaded with bright light) and it rewarded me with a spike that bloomed in October.

Bud · #4 11-08-2011, 01:53 AM

That is very informative, Sonya...Thanks...Id say Tolumnia will be best bet for the windowsill in Vermont...its mini plants that have jewel colored flowers and with the artificial light and the window light; I think it will survive...it blooms as many times a year and dont cut the spike cause they will rebloom again in the same spike...in the warmer months it can be put outside under the shade

greenpassion · #5 11-08-2011, 09:26 AM

Thank you all for your responses.

I should have added that I have lower temps in the winter here in my house. I am soon to get a multi-fuel pellet stove put into my fire place, and am hopeful I'll be able to keep it warmer in here. Currently I keep it around 62-64 degrees in general

which I think is too cold for oncidiums. On a window sill it would be even colder I would think. My living room window is not insulated, or double paned. It's the old 12light single paned made 100 years ago, with the putty around the glass panes. Definatly need to replace it.

WhiteRabbit · #6 11-08-2011, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenpassion

Thank you all for your responses.

I should have added that I have lower temps in the winter here in my house. I am soon to get a multi-fuel pellet stove put into my fire place, and am hopeful I'll be able to keep it warmer in here. Currently I keep it around 62-64 degrees in general

which I think is too cold for oncidiums. On a window sill it would be even colder I would think. My living room window is not insulated, or double paned. It's the old 12light single paned made 100 years ago, with the putty around the glass panes. Definatly need to replace it.

Well, I don't know about the windows, but otherwise 62-64 shouldn't be a problem for most oncidiums (tho there are some warm - hot growing species, but many are intermediate growers, and most intergeneric hybrids would also probably be fine) and cool growers, like Odontoglossum, would probably be quite happy. My thermostat is set at 53 overnight, 60-64 days. I know people grow in windowsills in colder parts of the county, not sure what, or if anything, they do in winter - hopefully some can chime in. Start a separate thread if necessary for people to see the question.
gl!