The Oncidium Orchid
This genus of orchid has been described as "difficult". It contains almost three
hundred and fifty different species of orchid, many of which have been or need
to be re-classified. It is debated amongst the leading botanists whether or not
the Oncidium family should be split apart into two different genus instead.
However, despite the difficulty the present to botanists, the flower itself,
like many other orchids, is very beautiful. It received the name Oncidium
because of the appearance of its flower as well. Oncidium was derived from the
Greek word "onkos" which means "swelling". The swelling in the name was a
reference to the shape of the flower; the callus that is located at its lower
lip. The Oncidium orchid family does particularly well in sub-tropical rather
than tropical climates; drier weather is better for the plant. In areas like
Hawaii and Northern Mexico, or the Caribbean, the Oncidium orchid grows well
outdoors.
Growing Oncidium Orchids
Just like any other flower, growing the Oncidium orchid healthily starts from at
the bottom, and goes upward. The very bottom, of course, in the soil. An ideal
soil for the Oncidium orchid contains finely cut bark - one half or one
centimeter pieces, perlite, and charcoal. When watering the Oncidium, do not use
water from the tap if you have a water softening system that relies on salt.
Instead, use rainwater, or just tap water. Otherwise, if you have hard water,
water the orchid often to flush the minerals through the soil. Later on, when
the plant has matured, the plant should be allowed to dry out more and more in
between watering, as the season progresses. You'll want to encourage the
production of flowers rather than vegetation, and during the winter, the plant
should be allowed to dry a bit more so that it can rest.
