TINY orchid, need help Identifying - Orchid Board

Xovyn · #1 01-23-2016, 08:07 PM

I got this orchid on a clearance table and it wasn't labeled. I looked up the company and it seems they only sell phalaenopsis, cymbidiums and mini phalaenopsis. I am assuming this is a Cymbidium? But the blooms are SO TINY, and when I google cymbidium none of the search returns look like this.
Any help would be appreciated!

rbarata · #2 01-23-2016, 08:19 PM

This seems to be an Oncidium. I can't tell the name.

WhiteRabbit · #3 01-23-2016, 08:36 PM

Oncidium alliance - could be an intergeneric hybrid.

PaphMadMan · #4 01-24-2016, 11:40 AM

Oncidium alliance, no question about it. That flower is small, but I wonder if fresh flowers on a new spike would be larger than this last hanger-on. I can do some searching later today if there hasn't been a good suggestion. It would be helpful to know how big the plant is.

estación seca · #5 01-24-2016, 02:36 PM

It's probably a hybrid, so you'll never be able to find its name. Sometimes the store manager can put you in touch with the grower, who might be able to identify the plant from a photo and the location you bought it.

If you go to the Oncidium forum and start looking around you can read about them. They hybrids tend to make a new growth right after flowering, so they flower multiple times per year.

They're good house plants. Most people do really well with them. Oncidiums tend to do best not going completely dry. They need a lot of water when the new growth is forming or the new leaves will be pleated, reflecting inadequate watering. I think they're much better first orchids than Phals for people who tend to overwater their plants.

Just as a new growth begins, and new roots form from the new growth, is the time to repot. If the medium looks rotten you can repot now, but in that case let it get almost dry between waterings until it begins rooting.

Xovyn · #6 01-24-2016, 07:20 PM

It had several blooms left when I bought it, and they were all that small. I don't know if that helps at all.

---------- Post added at 05:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:18 PM ----------

Including flower spike, plant is 24 inches tall.

Becky15349 · #7 01-25-2016, 03:23 PM

Sorry that we can't identify the type, but there are gazillions of oncidium type hybrids out there. A good suggestion above was to take a picture of the bloom and email the place where you think it came from. Do your homework on oncidiums - they like a little more water, most grow in straight sphagnum moss, the bloom in the fall, like medium light (be careful giving it too much light because the strappy leaves can burn). Since it helps to keep these a little wetter (but by no means soggy) it helps to keep a fan on it to minimize mold growing on the media. It should be easy to keep - enjoy it!

PaphMadMan · #8 01-25-2016, 07:07 PM

I'm not convinced this is a hybrid at all. There are many Oncidium species that look very similar, and the condition of that flower hides a lot of details. Until the plant blooms again, or more information turns up, Oncidium alliance is all we can say for sure.

Xovyn · #9 01-26-2016, 02:14 PM

Thank you so much, everyone, for all the advice and help! I now have a good place to start from in caring for and researching this orchid. Maybe when it blooms again I can get photos of the flowers to aid in better identification. Thank you again, so much!!!

charitysmama · #10 02-02-2016, 11:20 PM

I have several Oncidium, but didn't get much in the way of blooms this last winter. I am wondering if they are not getting enough light. I have them in front of a south facing patio door but here on the Oregon coast is where Noah chose to retire to, if you get my drift (he, he). They are growing like crazy and putting out new roots, all except one I tried to divide and repot and have probably killed it. The house stays in the low to mid 60s.