The Oncidium orchid, also known as the Golden Orchid, is a true spectacle with its dazzling array of vibrant colors. This article aims to answer all your questions about this captivating flower, covering its characteristics, cultivation, and care techniques.
1 Introduction to the Oncidium Orchid
The Oncidium orchid, often referred to as the Dendrobium orchid, is the second-largest genus within the orchid family (Orchidaceae). This exquisite flower traces its origins to several countries, including China and India, as well as temperate and tropical regions of Asia.
The Oncidium orchid is remarkably versatile, displaying varying shapes and structures depending on the cultivar, allowing it to adapt to diverse living conditions. It is a deciduous plant, shedding its leaves in autumn, and requiring a period of dormancy to prepare for the next flowering season.
2 Types of Oncidium Orchids and Their Unique Characteristics
To adapt to different environmental conditions, there are ten primary types of Oncidium orchids commonly found in Vietnam, each contributing to the incredible diversity of colors and shapes within this flower species.
Trumpet Oncidium
The Trumpet Oncidium (Dendrobium lituiflorum) is a breathtaking and rare orchid species. It flourishes in cool to warm temperatures and can even tolerate colder conditions.
Trumpet Oncidium captivates with its enchanting purple hue.
The Trumpet Oncidium boasts a long and slender stem that gracefully droops, reaching lengths of 50 to 80 cm. Its leaves are lanceolate and fall off in autumn. The flowers bloom from late winter to early spring, presenting a mesmerizing palette of purple shades, ranging from light to dark.
Twisted Oncidium
The Twisted Oncidium (Dendrobium tortile lindl) is a common orchid species in Vietnam, particularly in the northern and central provinces. It features a thick stem, a sturdy base, and grows to a height of about 40-50 cm, with lanceolate leaves.
Twisted Oncidium enthralls with its white petals tinged with purple or green.
The flowers of the Twisted Oncidium grow in clusters, showcasing shades of white with subtle hints of purple or green. Typically, there are only 2-3 flowers per cluster, but they are highly fragrant and long-lasting. This variety is at its most beautiful during spring and summer.
Longan Oncidium
The Longan Oncidium (Dendrobium fimbriatum) stands out for its impressive height, often exceeding one meter and sometimes even reaching up to two meters. Its stem is thick and cylindrical, adorned with long hairs, while its leaves are lanceolate with pointed tips.
Longan Oncidium shines with its vibrant yellow hue.
This orchid variety thrives in cool climates and partial sunlight, preferring around 50% exposure. It typically blooms from late March to early July, adding a splash of color to its surroundings.
Three-Color Oncidium
The Three-Color Oncidium (Dendrobium devonianum) is a cultivar derived from the Three-Color orchid. It is a popular choice among gardeners due to its ease of cultivation, fragrant flowers, and eye-catching colors. This variety usually blooms beautifully during the summer months, from early April to July.
Three-Color Oncidium delights with its unique blend of purple, yellow, and white.
The Three-Color Oncidium is distinguished by its purple and yellow flowers interspersed with white. Its leaves are diamond-shaped, and the color of the leaf tips can vary from dark green to yellow, depending on the amount of sunlight the plant receives.
White Hair Oncidium
The White Hair Oncidium (Dendrobium senile) is a popular orchid species in Vietnam, especially in the northwestern region.
White Hair Oncidium captivates with its unique, eye-catching appearance.
It features a distinctive swollen middle stem, white-green in color, and covered in white hairs. The flowers grow in dense clusters, and the plant starts shedding its leaves in autumn, with the flowers blooming in late winter to early spring.
Red-Striped Oncidium
The Red-Striped Oncidium (Dendrobium ochraceum) is a rare species listed in the Red Book. It is an epiphytic orchid with a segmented stem, a cylindrical shape, and a length of 20-40 cm, covered in black hairs. Its leaves are rounded with unevenly shaped lobes. The inflorescence bears 1-2 flowers, which are short and grow in the leaf axils.
Red-Striped Oncidium is a rare and protected species.
This orchid grows on large trees in forests, at altitudes of 300-700 meters. When in bloom, it showcases golden flowers with curled petals and red veins inside. The Red-Striped Oncidium flowers from May to June and then regenerates through buds and seeds.
Bulbous Oncidium
The Bulbous Oncidium (Dendrobium wardianum) is true to its name, featuring a robust, swollen stem. Its stem length reaches about 40 cm, and it is thick with 4-5 cm long hairs that swell at the tips.
Bulbous Oncidium stands out with its vibrant colors.
The flowers of the Bulbous Oncidium grow from the stem’s segments after the leaves have fallen. Each flower stalk produces 5-6 blooms with purple, oval-shaped petals that have slightly pointed tips and long apexes. Due to its vibrant colors, this orchid is often used for decoration during the Tet holiday. It blooms in late winter to early spring.
Pink-Spotted Oncidium
The Pink-Spotted Oncidium (Dendrobium draconis) is native to central Vietnam, the Central Highlands, and other regions. It is an epiphytic plant, deriving its nutrients from the air, wind, and rainfall. Its stem grows to a height of 20-40 cm, with 7-9 segments, and black hairs growing around it.
Pink-Spotted Oncidium delights with its fragrant, camellia-like scent.
The Pink-Spotted Oncidium boasts large flowers, measuring about 6-7 cm across. The petals are white and waxy, while the lip is adorned with red-orange stripes. The flowers have an extended vase life and emit a pleasant fragrance reminiscent of camellia. Blooming occurs in spring or summer, depending on the climate.
Golden Oncidium
The Golden Oncidium (Dendrobium chrysanthum), also known as the Golden Necklace, has a long stem, reaching up to 1.2 meters. Its stem is covered with leaf sheaths that enclose the stem segments.
Golden Oncidium dazzles with its bright yellow flowers.
The flowers grow in clusters of 1-3 blooms per stem segment. They are golden yellow with two dark brown spots on the lip. The flowers last for about 20 days and have a subtle fragrance. Blooming typically occurs during the early summer months of April and May.
Fringed Oncidium
The Fringed Oncidium (Dendrobium brymerianum) is native to northern Vietnam’s border regions, such as Cao Bang and Sapa, as well as highland areas like Lam Dong. It has a small base, a swollen middle stem, and a slender top, reaching a height of 20-30 cm. The leaves are concentrated at the apex, and the plant sheds very few leaves during winter.
Fringed Oncidium captivates with its unusual yellow color.
The Fringed Oncidium blooms from May to June, releasing a pleasant fragrance. Its flowers are a unique yellow color and measure about 3-4.5 cm in size. They grow from the mature stem’s segments.
Charming Oncidium
The Charming Oncidium (Dendrobium ellipsophyllum) is an epiphytic orchid that grows in clusters and is native to highland regions like Da Lat in Lam Dong province, where it thrives in ideal growing conditions. It has a soft, long stem, measuring 40-50 cm in length. The leaves are densely arranged at the apex and are oval-shaped.
Charming Oncidium enchants with its yellow-green or white flowers.
Unlike other varieties, the flowers of the Charming Oncidium do not grow in clusters. Instead, they emerge individually from the pseudobulb, opposite the leaf shoots. They are yellow-green or white, with a subtle fragrance, and bloom for an extended period, lasting 45-50 days, during spring and summer.
3 Cultivation and Care of Oncidium Orchids
To cultivate healthy and beautiful Oncidium orchids, it is crucial to select robust plants with intact roots and leaves, free from any damage or insect infestation. The pseudobulbs should be firm and not shriveled. It is recommended to purchase plants from reputable nurseries to ensure the best results.
Cultivation
Oncidium orchids are typically propagated through cutting or tissue culture, and they are grown in small pots due to their non-spreading nature. The pot size should be slightly larger than the root ball of the plant, ideally no more than 2.5 cm wider.
Oncidium orchids are commonly propagated through cutting or tissue culture.
Care
Soil: Oncidium orchids have specific soil requirements and cannot thrive in regular potting soil. Instead, they require a specialized orchid mix or substrate, which can be purchased from reputable plant nurseries.
Oncidium orchids need a specialized orchid mix or substrate.
Alternatively, you can use other substrates such as pine bark, moss, or coconut fiber to meet their unique soil needs.
Temperature and Humidity: Oncidium orchids prefer summer temperatures of 26-32°C during the day and 18-21°C at night. To induce flowering, they require cooler temperatures of around 10°C during the winter months.
Oncidium orchids thrive
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