Dwarf Oncidiun ID help?
 

I got this little dwarf Oncidium on clearance for $3.25 at a big box store today. I'm loving it, but it was the only one without an ID tag. :( It has a great root system, and I took it out of the charcoal it was in and put it in sphagnum. Does anyone have a clue what it is?

It's a little Tolumnia but beyond that I have no clue. I have no experience with these but knowing what it is beyond a simple oncidium should help some.

It is a Tolumnia hybrid, they used to be called equitant Oncidiums. There is no way to know the specific hybrid. It probably won't like the sphagnum. They naturally grow on small twigs where the roots get lots of air. Bright light, don't over-water, especially in sphagnum. It should be easy to find culture information for Tolumnia.

Thanks guys. :) After further Googling, I believe that what I have is Tolumnia 'Genting Angel'. The thing that I've noticed, both with my plant's two active blooms and the pictures I've found, is that flowers vary quite a lot, even on the same spike.

As you have noticed, hybrid Tolumnia flowers are quite variable even on one plant. Your flowers may look like some flowers of Tolumnia Genting Angel (no quotes), but they also look like some flowers of dozens of other hybrids, and they look nothing at all like some other flowers of Genting Angel which can be purple or yellow or red, with or without spots. With most orchids you can never really be sure of the name of a NoID hybrid. This is especially true of Tolumnia where every cross can look almost alike but doesn't always even look like itself.

When the spike finishes blooming do not prune it. Tolumnia often send out new branches of blooms. I have mine growing in sphagnum moss as my environment is very dry. Water early in the day and allow to dry out by evening. Keep the air circulating. Mist between watering. These plants come from the Carribean--Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba, southern Forida, etc.

Howdy

too bad you put it in spaghnum moss.

put it back in the charcoal
less is more with tolumnia / equitant oncids

they need to dry quickly
they are descended from Caribbean islands habitats.
Treat almost like a vanda
eventually in a basket with very little medium
water once a day
very quick to dry off
= lottsa blooms

Take care
Rex

Your big box stores sell Tolumnia? Wow, I'm living in the wrong part of the country, apparently!

I have five varieties, three with names, most from Lowe's.

R

Okay, this little guy is now mounted. I love going to Lowes (which is where I got this one) because I always find a cool orchid or two on their clearance shelf. A liitle while ago I got a Vanda Sansai Blue for $6. :drool: