Trichocentrum pumilum - finally! - Orchid Board

JungleJo · #1 09-29-2021, 06:52 PM

This one has many names, Oncidium pumilum, Lophiaris pumila, etcetera. I go with Trichocentrum pumilum.

I've had this plant for almost three years and this is the first time it flowers. I think the magic was to put it outside 24/7/365 and give it a cold winter and cold nights - bam! 4 spikes! I broke one when it was small and brittle, I didn't even see it. 3 are left and the first one is starting to flower right now.

I grow it mounted on a piece of oak, where it has been for about 2 years. I had it mounted on cork for a while before that, but I prefer this stone hard oak that lasts practically forever. I water it every morning through an automatic spray system, though now I've put it on display so I spray it manually in the morning.

The flowers are about 3mm diameter and very difficult to photograph with the telephone. They are still just about opening up and I expect a "yellow branch of flowers" when they're all open. I will try to take some better photos of it with a tripod and camera.

Not a spectacular plant, but I'm so, so happy that I finally got it to flower!!

DirtyCoconuts · #2 09-29-2021, 07:36 PM

Fun!!

estación seca · #3 09-29-2021, 11:55 PM

Congratulations!

YetAnotherOrchidNut · #4 09-30-2021, 01:00 PM

I am so jealous. One of the first orchid babies I purchased was a Trichocentrum (Zaki Alsagoff). I lost it in a moment of madness going overboard with pest treatment during a severe mite infestation and I have wanted to get another one ever since. Whenever I see a mention of them my heart skips a beat. So happy for your success.

JungleJo · #5 09-30-2021, 02:41 PM

Thanks for the kind words! Means a lot to me.

This is one of the first orchids I aquired here and getting it to bloom after having almost killed it in the beginning is special. It must have lost all of its initial leaves by now, but I've got it to a point of growing on at least 4 leads, so it looks promising. The climate here is great for growing almost anything, but there are still obstacles - one of them being myself.