Oncidium - dancing lady?

[Aussie42]

Hi folks.

This is labelled “dancing lady” but I was informed recently by a friend that many Oncidiums are called dancing lady, it being commonly used to describe a whole group of yellowish Oncs. The people I got it from have proved to be a bit lax in the labelling department.

Could this be Onc. dancing lady, or just some cross that looks like dancing lady? FYI it’s physically a large plant and there are not as many spikes as I’d expect from a plant of this size. A Sharry baby of this size I’d expect at least half a dozen spikes.

The first pic is without flash. The colour is more light brown than reddish, though the flash kind of turned the brown to red in the last picture in particular.

Cheers,
Aus.

[tucker85]

There is an orchid named Gombrassiltonia Dancing Lady but I think, in this case, they're using the generic name 'dancing lady' which, like you said, can be used to refer to any oncidium with the classic shape.

[RandomGemini]

Yes, all oncidiums are "dancing ladies" that's just the common name for the flower.

I couldn't really tell you which one this is, except that it does look like an oncidium family member. If the tag doesn't say specifically, you'll never know for sure what it is. I suspect it's a hybrid, not a "species" which, IMO is a good thing. In my experience, hybrids tend to be less touchy.

It's got a great big spike, lots of flowers. Can you post a picture of the whole plant? I'd just like to see it. I have three oncidium hybrids and I love mine. They're great, seem to be pretty easy to grow (I'm still new to orchids, so the fact that mine are throwing new roots out and new pseudobulbs out is making me very happy. ).

[Aussie42]

Hi folks.

Just as I feared, a misc unidentifiable cross. Ah well...they certainly are robust and hardy, which is good.

RG - pics attached, as well as another plant from the 2nd shadehouse that's also in flower at the moment. They are pretty huge plants, the p-bulbs and leaves are easily a foot high. The first is in a rather nice hand-made pot.

Cheers,
Aus.

[RandomGemini]

Nice! Some of the leaves look a tad on the pale side to me. They should be light green, but not quite yellow. More of a granny smith apple color. I think this one might have been getting too much light in it's previous home. Definitely an oncidium. Which one though... no idea.

It's a great plant! Nice and big! Lots of pbulbs going on in there. Love that pot. What medium is it potted in?

I know some people pot their oncidiums in lava rock or gravel. I use a chunky bark with charcoal and perlite for mine. I've got one I'm dying to repot, but it's not done blooming yet and I'm waiting to see some new root growth out of it before I disturb it.

[Aussie42]

It's in perlite and coir peat. I was put onto this mix a few years ago by one of Dad's orchid growing friends. It works really well on just about everything - Dens, Catts, Ceologynes etc. I've even been trialling a Stanhopea in it - it's been doing well for six months so when I repot my other Stans I will seriously consider it.

Getting the mix right is tricky at first - you don't want too much water held, but you don't want it too dry. For example I used a fair bit more peat with the Stan than I would for a Den or Catt.

Cheers,
Aus.

[Wild Orchid]

I also saw some call a similar looking plant Sweet Sugar.
For me, official tags don't matter that much but that's just me.
Very nice Onicidium!

Google Image Result for http://www.paramountorchids.com/jpg/Onc%2520Sweet%2520Sugar%2520.jpg


P.S. Ummm.. Upon a closer inspection, perhaps it IS a different looking flower. Sorry. Unable to delete the post.

[RandomGemini]

It is a different flower. I have Sweet Sugar, it's a lot more yellow and the lady has a bigger "skirt" I love my sweet sugar and am sad that the blooms are about done on it. They really do look like dancing ladies in great big ball gowns with their hair flying behind them. It's so pretty.

---------- Post added at 05:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:09 PM ----------

It does look a lot like this one:

Oncidium excavatum at Santa Barbara Orchid Estate

[Wild Orchid]

[/COLOR]It does look a lot like this one:

Oncidium excavatum at Santa Barbara Orchid Estate[/QUOTE]

Oh, God - I want them ALL!

[Aussie42]

The excavatum is pretty close, but I think Oncidium sphacelatum is a better match.

Developing an Orchid Collection with Backbulbs: Oncidium sphacelatum

IOSPE PHOTOS

Any thoughts?

Cheers,
Aus.