Oncidium Culture

[dennisl142]

I received the folloowikng Oncidiums from an online vendor in November last year. Can anyone tell me if these plants have a culture different than almost Cattleya light, water when medium is almost dry and fertilize every 3rd watering.

Wildcat
Misty Highland
Cherry Fudge
Sweet Sugar Emperor
Mem James Asher

Thanks
Dennisl142

[PaphMadMan]

I can't find anything that seems to match the name Misty Highland among typical Oncidium hybrids. Is it perhaps a very small plant with fans of leaves with only a very small pseudobulb that may be almost hidden among the leaf bases?

For the others, typical Oncidium alliance conditions as you describe should be just fine. Sweet Sugar may appreciate being a bit brighter and warmer than the others.

[dennisl142]

You described Misty Highland to a tea. It came from the grower in a 3 inch pot. Has very short and small leaves. If there is a pseudobulb it must still be under the media.

[PaphMadMan]

Then is appears it could be Rodrumnia Misty, with 'Highland' as a cultivar name, a Tolumnia hybrid with a tiny bit of Rodriguezia ancestry. Still an Oncidium relative, but not one for the 'typical' culture of the others you listed. These are commonly grown either mounted or in empty clay pots, or in small baskets with just a little charcoal or lava rock. They need fairly frequent water because they are such small plants without much water storage ability but they must dry out fast. The same light as the others, or a bit more, and they like it warm. Not difficult, just a bit different in their needs.

[dennisl142]

Thanks for the guidance and info. Guess i should post a couple photos just to make sure we are talkjng about the right plant. I will post them tomorrow.

[dennisl142]

PaphMadMan ----- I sent an email to the vendor that I purchased that plant from. Whenhe replies I will give you an update.

[dennisl142]

I received an answer from the vendor today. Answer is as follows:

Ionocidium Misty 'Highland is a cross from Bartley Schwartz of Highland Tropicals. One parent was Ionocidium utricularioides and the Oncidium was never identified as the paper work was lost by RHS or in the mail to RHS many years ago. Bartley became sick and passed away before the confusion of the Oncidium could be cleared up. Some people think the oncidium was flexuosum but no one knows for sure.

[PaphMadMan]

Interesting story. Odd that the only record of the parents of a cross was on the lost paperwork. The only registered Misty in the Oncidium alliance is the Rodrumnia I mentioned.

The cross between Ionopsis utricarioides and Oncidium flexuosum was registered in 2001, Ionocididium Popcorn. It tends to look a lot like the Ionopsis parent.

By the vendor's information, you have an unregistered hybrid of unknown parentage. Nothing wrong with that, but hard to predict what it needs for culture. At least when it blooms it should be obvious if it is an Ionopsis hybrid.

[dennisl142]

The vendor answered my culture question. Almost Catt light. Let it thoroughly dry out before watering. Fertilixe every 3rd watering as it is in moss and use intermediate temps.