Suggestion for a large vigorous free flowering Onc.

[DTEguy]

I'm looking for a large yellow oncidium. An oncidium which is vigorous and that can bloom more than once a year. I know it's a little specific but was wondering if anyone has any suggestions. Thanks.

[Dollythehun]

There are several. You might try "Sweet Sugar." It's big and vigorous.

[DTEguy]

Thanks. I'm thinking of in the vicinity of sphacelatum, taka, altissimum, but I'm not sure if they bloom more than once a year. Is there something similar growing fast enough to be able to bloom twice a year?

[Dollythehun]

Mine didn't. You weren't specific in your original post.

[fishmom]

Odcdm. Tiger Crow and its relatives are big and vigorous. I don't know about multiple blooms per year; I would think it might depend on your conditions and how happy the plant is.

[DTEguy]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Mine didn't. You weren't specific in your original post.

In terms of vigor and size.....not necessarily specifically the ones I mentioned.

---------- Post added at 12:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 AM ----------

Originally Posted by fishmom

Odcdm. Tiger Crow and its relatives are big and vigorous. I don't know about multiple blooms per year; I would think it might depend on your conditions and how happy the plant is.

Thanks! I'll look it up. Yes I understand, I'll be mounting one on a tree in Malaysia.

[stompy]

Oncidium sphacelatum. We call it Kandyan dancer orchid in my country (Sri Lanka). Everyone has one and they are never not in bloom. Just tie to a tree and let them get plenty of sun. Some shade at noon might help but I've had established plants in full sun (in the tropics mind you) be completely fine. Once they have enough light they will never stop blooming. Mine was a large plant and on avarage had 4-5 spikes in bloom at a given moment

[Selmo]

Onc. ‘Gower Ramsey’ use to be fairly common, don’t see them as much now. Blooms a few times a year, fairly big plant, hardy, tolerant of many different growing conditions, doesn’t get a lot of the leaf problems that oncidiums get. Similar to Onc. altissimum as far as plant size, shape and habit but flowers much more yellow, less brown and larger than altissimum. Our altissimum only blooms once a year in spring, Gower Ramsey blooms at anytime during the year.
Photo #1 Onc. altissimum flowers
Photo #2 Onc. ‘Gower Ramsey’ flowers

[D_novice]

The suggestions here are for both species, and hybrids, probably because your post didn't specify a preference. Do you care?

Also - large. Are you referring to the size of the plant, or the size of the bloom, or the number of flowers on a spike?

Hybrids are more "vigorous" - usually easier to bloom and tolerant of a range of conditions and bred for the types of qualities you specified.

[Mechanica071]

Just a word of advice, Onc. sphacelatum is a complete space hog and shows some reluctance to bloom. I had one for approximately 5 years with no blooms in sight. Only time I ever achieved a bloom spike on mine was after exposing it to 39 degree (Fahrenheit!) temperatures overnight, it threw one bloom spike off of one of three newly matured pseudobulbs.... Then promptly froze to death in an unexpected 19 degree cold snap. Lovely showy flowers once they bloom, but not always right for everyone!