Tips on growing Colmanara Orchids...?

[Wade Coleman]

Hey everyone! This is my first post an I'm super excited to be a part of this forum. I am relatively new to the orchid world and don't know much. I have 8 Phals right now that have rebloomed for me/grown new roots/ new leaves ect. so I feel that I have a good grasp on their care and want to try something new. The other day I purchased a 'Odcdm' Wildcat "Golden Red Star". I'm not sure if the 'Odcdm' is supposed to stand for Oncidium or not, but upon a little research I noticed that a lot of people refer to them as Colmanara... Correct me if I'm wrong. Anyways, I couldn't find too much information on how to care for them, so I was hoping that some of y'all could help. I live on the windward side of Oahu so, as far as temperature and humidity are concerned, I'm solid. I just would like to know how frequently I should water and how much sunlight I should provide. Thank y'all so much!

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Odontocidium was Odontoglossum x Oncidium. Taxonomists have changed a lot of genus names, including moving the former Odontoglossums to Oncidium. So Odontocidiums are Oncidiums.

I'm too tired to look up Colmanara ancestry. If you're in a breezy area you could give sun. Otherwise dappled shade. Keep them moist but not soggy. There are a number of Hawaiian growers posting here. Consider joining your local orchid society.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I can't add to the care as es has given that to you already. I just wanted to welcome you.

[Orchid Whisperer]

You are on the windward sideof the island, so you probably get at least some rain every other day, maybe daily? If so, you may not need to water much at all if your plant is outdoors and exposed to rain. Dappled or filtered light.

You can provide a balanced fertilizer occasionally, but the plant won't need much, and will not need it often. Simplified rule of thumb, if you give fertilizer, provide 1/4 whatever strength the package recommends.

[Wade Coleman]

So, when considering intergeneric orchids, will the hybrid orchid have similar care requirements of the parents? If I know, for example, that Colmanaras are crossed between Miltonia and Odontoglossum, will learning the care requirements of these plants help me better understand the care requirements of the Colmanara?

[Mountaineer370]

Welcome to the board, Wade! I'm somewhat new to growing orchids myself, so I can't really offer any "expert" advice. I grow indoors next to a window in the upper Midwest, so my conditions are very different from yours, but I do own a Colmanara Masai Red, and I care for it as an oncidium type. Mine seems to be a very thirsty plant, needing water more often than my phals, and a little more light, too. It grows like a weed; in fact, I just divided it a couple days ago.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Wade Coleman

So, when considering intergeneric orchids, will the hybrid orchid have similar care requirements of the parents? If I know, for example, that Colmanaras are crossed between Miltonia and Odontoglossum, will learning the care requirements of these plants help me better understand the care requirements of the Colmanara?

Yes, that will help. With Colmanara, I find that the care is actually easier than the parent plants. My Colmanara is an extremely easy plant to care for.

[estación seca]

Colmanaras, like many Oncidium intergenerics, are plants that can grow so easily and so big people begin to wonder what they got themselves into.