How to grow kandyan dancer orchid

Growing Orchids: Oncidium, or Dancing Lady

Fill your home with dancing sprays of delicate blossoms when you start growing orchids in the Oncidium family.

If you’ve mastered the skill of growing orchids like phaelanopsis and dendrobiums, you might be ready to step up to more challenging varieties like ondidium orchids, fancifully known as “Dancing Ladies.” These orchids are a bit pickier about light, temperature, and watering requirements, so do your research carefully before giving them a try. Here are some basics to get you started.

About Oncidium

Oncidium (say “on-SID-ee-um”) orchids are New World orchids, found in South and Central America and the West Indies, with one species in South Florida. There are over 300 species of oncidiums, but the most popular for home growers are the yellow or pink-flowered varieties sold simply as “Dancing Lady.” These are generally large plants, with long and abundant leaves. They flower in late summer or early fall, with dozens of blooms on multiple stems that can last for months. After they finish blooming, they enter a growth cycle, where they put on new leaves. They’re dormant in the early summer as they prepare to bloom again.

Temperature

Dancing Lady orchids like warm temperatures and moderate humidity. They prefer a minimum of 80 degrees F during the day, with at least 40% humidity. At night, they can tolerate temperatures down to about 55 degrees F. In some areas, you may find it hard to maintain the required temperatures and humidity during the winter months without a greenhouse. However, if you can keep oncidiums in a warm room and provide extra humidity (setting the pot on a shallow tray filled with pebbles and water helps), growing orchids in this family may be a possibility.

Light

Oncidiums tolerate more direct light than some other orchids. They do well in east or west windows, though it doesn’t hurt to soften the light a bit with a sheer curtain. Healthy Dancing Lady orchids have medium green leaves; dark green leaves indicate they aren’t getting enough sun.

Jill Staake

Water

Watering oncidiums properly can get tricky. They are very susceptible to root rot, so like other orchids they should never be left sitting in water. In fact, it’s best to let the potting mix dry out about halfway down the pot before watering. Stick your finger or a wood popsicle stick down into the mix. If it still feels wet, wait a few days more. The time between waterings will vary depending on the time of year and the plant’s growth cycle.

Potting and Fertilizing

Orchids need quick-draining potting material. Specially-designed orchid mixes made of bark, sphagnum moss, and other loose fillers are ideal. Do not use traditional potting soil or soil from your garden. Ensure the pot has holes for good drainage. Feed with a weak fertilizer once or twice a month. It’s better to underfeed than overfeed when growing orchids.

Maintenance

When the flowers begin to fade, allow them to drop naturally. Don’t remove the flower spike until it has turned completely brown and dry. Oncidiums prefer to be somewhat pot-bound, but may need re-potting every couple of years. This requires a cautious hand so as not to break the roots. Do a web search before re-potting to find a site that can walk you through the process.

Interested in more on growing orchids? See our guide to Orchids 101 here.

Oncidium Orchid Care Tips - Dancing Lady Orchid

Botanical Name: Oncidium species and hybrids

Most oncidium orchid species produce dozens of small flowers at the same time, giving a spectacular show that lasts for several weeks. The large-lipped flowers may be yellow, white, red, pink, green or brown.

Oncidium varicosum is a popular species, producing a shower of bright, sunny blooms.

The flowers vary greatly, but share one common feature: the large lower petal, called a lip, is always perpendicular to the side winged petals.

The distinctive shape of the blooms, carried on many-branched stems give oncidium orchid its common name: Dancing Lady Orchid. Oncidiums flutter in the breeze, making them "dance."

In the wild, almost all Oncidium (pronounced on-sid-ee-um) orchids are epiphytes, growing on tree branches where they anchor themselves with their thick roots. They like free-flowing air as in their native habitats. Put them where they'll enjoy air circulation, away from heat or AC vents.

Several hundred species exist, native to tropical and subtropical habitats, including the high Andes mountains, the humid forests of Jamaica, and the tropical river valleys of Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.

What these dancing sprays of flowers have in common is a love of humidity. If the relative humidity drops below 50%, use a pebble tray or room humidifier to increase the moisture in the air. Grouping plants also helps to maintain the humidity around them. You can mist the foliage every day -- they won't mind.

Oncidium Varieties

Most oncidiums you'll find are hybrids, involving several species. These complex hybrids produce more flowers, bloom more often, and grow faster than the species. Oncidium hybrids offer some gorgeous varieties.

O. papilio "Butterfly Orchid"

O. varicosum, shown above, is a popular species, producing a shower of bright, sunny blooms.

Oncidium papilio, shown at right, is called the Butterfly Orchid. This is one of the few orchids that bloom in succession, a flower at a time, from spring through autumn. Spectacular colors and easy to grow -- what's not to love?

'Sharry Baby' shown below, is an easy orchid for beginners, offering a profusion of red and white, sweetly scented flowers.

'Sharry Baby' is a gorgeous Oncidium cultivar that is deliciously scented like chocolate.

Growing Oncidiums Year-Round

Shed some light. Oncidium orchid plants need plenty of light, but not direct sun. If you don't have a spot near a window, artificial lighting works beautifully. Fluorescent bulbs are efficient. Use 1 warm white tube and 1 cool white tube under a reflector. Place orchids about 6 inches (20 cm) beneath the light for 14-16 hours a day. It's also important to give them darkness at night. Plants need a rest, too.

To repot...or not. Fir bark medium breaks down after a couple years and needs replaced. The best time to repot your orchid is when new growth begins, shortly after blooming.

Got a reluctant bloomer? Give your orchid slightly cooler nighttime temperatures to spark blooming. A 15° difference will do. Oncidiums will tolerate varying temperatures from 55° nights up to 75° days. Blooming time varies by species and some give more than 1 show of blooms throughout the year. With good oncidium orchid care, you can expect blooms year after year.

Origin: Most from South America

Height: Species vary widely -- many range from 12-30 in (30-75 cm).

Light: Good orchid care also includes bright, indirect sunlight. Don't have space near a bright window? Fluorescent lights work well, too.

Water: Keep the medium lightly moist during the growing season. Be careful not to overwater. Oncidiums store water in their pseudobulbs, making them more tolerant of dry soil than wet. Water less during other times of the year, allowing soil to become almost completely dry between thorough waterings.

Humidity: Moderate, preferably 50-60% relative humidity. Use a humidity tray or room humidifier, if needed.

Temperature: 55-60°F/13-16°C nights and 65-75°F/18-24°C days; slightly cooler nights will help these beauties bloom.

Soil: Orchid potting mix

Fertilizer: Feed during active growth every 3 weeks with an organic orchid fertilizer.

Propagation: Division. Divide into clumps of at least 4 pseudobulbs each.

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Caring for Orchids

species of orchids, watering, care rules

I do not know such a person who would not like Orchids. Moreover, there are many varieties of them: slender and bushy, with large flowers and with small, bright and pastel shades. Even speckled, and then there are!

Contents:

1. Let's move on to little tricks in caring for the Orchid.

2. How to grow orchids at home?

3. Is it possible to grow an orchid from a root?

Many are tormented by the thought: “How to grow an Orchid?” There is an opinion that it is very difficult and troublesome. To be honest, if you want not to make efforts to care for plants - get artificial ones. The orchid is not pickier than any other indoor flower. To deprive yourself of such splendor is simply a crime! We will not put it off indefinitely, but proceed to the choice of Orchids.

I will tell you right away, there are several types of orchids. It is better for beginner flower growers to purchase the Phalaenopsis Orchid - it is less demanding of care than others. You can, of course, ask your friends for the “baby” of this flower, but only if you can surround her with vigilant attention and affection.

It is best to purchase an adult plant in the store. The key to success is buying a healthy specimen. Contact professionals who value their reputation. For example, in our company you can buy orchids and get qualified advice on caring for your new green pets. In addition, you do not have to repot new plants, since they are already sold in the appropriate substrate, and not in the transport one, as in a regular store.

You need to choose an Orchid according to the principle of "hardness and elasticity. " These two qualities should be inherent in all its parts: leaves, roots, peduncle. The root system of a healthy orchid is usually green or grayish in color. Leaves should be uniform in color. No stains or creases. Pay close attention to the growing point of the Orchid (in the middle of the rosette of leaves). It should have a natural color, the same as other leaves.

Let's move on to little tricks in caring for the Orchid.

Provide sufficient light for your new pet. If necessary, purchase a special lamp.
You can water the Orchid in various ways. Each owner chooses the right one for himself.
- Can be watered twice a week like any other indoor flower, just make sure that the water does not stagnate.
- A more natural way for the Orchid is to follow the aerial roots. When they turn white, immerse the plant pot in water so that it completely covers the roots for an hour.
Orchid is a plant of the tropics, so it loves a warm shower once a month in the morning.
Keep water out of the center of the rosette of leaves while spraying. Excess moisture should be blotted off.
Do not put the Orchid in a draft, it will not bloom and will often get sick.
Feed the flower once a week during flowering with a special fertilizer.
After the Orchid has finished blooming, reduce the amount of watering to allow the plant to rest.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated and intricate in the question “How to grow an Orchid?” no. I hope if you had doubts about the acquisition of this beautiful flower, now they have dissipated. By the way, autumn is a good time to buy Orchids.

How to grow orchids at home?

It is not easy to grow an orchid in the house; at first, the baby should receive maximum care and attention. Some moments are reflected in the video, but novice florists often worry when they get a baby to grow at home. It is even more difficult to grow an orchid from a root, leaf or seed, you need not only to look after and look after the pot, but also to water and feed the flower in a timely manner, which needs water, air and sunlight. The main thing is to do everything in moderation.

Most often, a sprout of the Phalaenopsis orchid is taken for the home, creating conditions for its growth and the formation of peduncles. Some novice gardeners think that it is enough to put a pot on the window, water it from a bottle, and soon a plant will appear from the root. Often they make typical mistakes when growing, due to which the flower may die. These features are reflected in the table:

Errors	How to do it right
Location of pots in the shade	Orchids love light, they are placed in direct sunlight. However, an excess of light can be detrimental to children, so sunbathing should be dosed.
The temperature is too low	The optimum temperature in summer is between 18-22 degrees. For some forms (Dendrobia and Cymbidia) it is 4-5 degrees lower.
Growing a seed in ordinary soil	Orchids love loose soil made of expanded clay, bark, coconut fiber and other components.
Abundant watering	It can lead to rotting of the roots, the appearance of mold or plaque of various colors on the stems. Planters are watered only when the soil dries out.

Is it possible to grow an orchid from a root?

This is a popular method of propagation, so you can grow an adult plant from the root. Even a novice florist can cope with this task by looking at instructions, photo or video materials.

Work algorithm:

Remove the plant from the pot. Shake the roots gently to remove excess soil.
Separate the roots carefully using a sharp knife. Cut off the process that has pseudobulbs.
Sprinkle the cut with cinnamon or charcoal. Plant the root in soil that is suitable for growing orchids.

Watch the pot and soon the flower will begin to grow. The orchid loves watering, sunlight and a comfortable temperature. If you carefully follow all the recommendations, your new pet will successfully take root in a new place.

How to grow an orchid from a shoot: tips and tricks from experts

Home > Orchids > Orchid care at home: how to properly care for these indoor flowers > How to grow an orchid at home? > Instructions on how to grow an orchid from a shoot

You can propagate your favorite phalaenopsis or dendrobium in a fairly simple way - by children. Shoots form on mature plants under suitable growth conditions.

It is very important to provide them with proper care from an early age. Otherwise, the inherently fascinating process of reproduction can turn into a headache for a carelessly tuned grower.

Contents:

1 How to grow an orchid from a shoot?
- 1.1 Technology
- 1.2 Use of hormones
2 Basic care of the mother plant
- 2.1 When and how are shoots separated?
- 2.2 Planting and growing roots in a young plant
3 Possible problems with shoots
- 3.1 Do not form on an adult orchid
- 3.2 Dry directly on the mother plant
- 3.3 Refusing to grow roots
4 Useful videos
5 Conclusion

How to grow an orchid from a shoot?

A shoot or baby is a young plant that forms on a faded peduncle, on the side of a plant stem or at the roots of an orchid. It looks like a miniature copy of an adult plant, can have its own root system and bloom, while being in connection with the mother plant.

Usually children are separated and planted in separate pots as adult plants.

Phalaenopsis orchid baby.

Under good growing conditions and quality care, orchids give birth on their own without the active intervention of the grower. It is necessary to adhere to simple but binding rules.

Technology

After flowering cut the peduncle 2-3 cm above the upper dormant bud;
Temperature must be within 22-28 °C during the day , and at night about 5-6 °C below . Higher temperatures will cause stress in the plant; at lower temperatures, life processes will slow down in the orchid;
For full-fledged photosynthesis, it is necessary to provide the plant with bright diffused light for 12-14 hours a day. If this is not possible for any reason, the orchid is illuminated with fitolamps;
The maximum possible humidity for your room, it is increased by all available means. The more, the higher the probability of the appearance and rapid development of the baby. It is optimal to hold more than 70%, but not less than 50%. Equally important is the circulation and access of fresh air;
Watering is not reduced, as this is contrary to the increase in air humidity. In nature, orchids produce babies during the rainy season, when high temperatures are combined with an abundance of sun and moisture.

The use of hormonal agents

Today, the method of growing children on orchids using cytokinin paste is very popular. Its use is optional, but can increase the chances of getting a sprout with a probability of up to 99%.

A small amount of cytokinin paste is applied to dormant buds cleaned from scales on faded peduncles in an amount of no more than 2 pieces per peduncle and no more than 3 pieces for the whole plant. After the appearance of sprouts, one (rarely two) of the strongest is selected, the rest are removed.

Stimulation of the dormant kidney with cytokinin paste.

Important! It must be understood that the stimulation of an orchid with the use of hormonal agents is only permissible for an adult (more than 3 years old), a strong and healthy plant with lush foliage (more than 5 leaves) and a beard of roots. Otherwise, there is a risk of completely depleting a young, weakened or diseased plant. It will not feed the baby and may die on its own.

Basic care of the mother plant

In any case, after flowering, the orchid enters the phase of active vegetation, during which special attention should be paid to top dressing.

If the baby is still formed, then the orchid is fed with nitrogen fertilizers, placed in a bright place, regularly sprayed , in general, kept in the most favorable conditions.

First of all, it is necessary for the baby to develop normally and, at the same time, the mother plant also has time to grow green mass and roots.

Orchid during this period needs bright diffused light for more than 12 hours a day. It will be optimal to place the plant on the western or eastern windows. High humidity is necessary for the steady flow of photosynthesis and the growth of roots on the baby.

When and how are the shoots separated?

Baby from peduncle is separated after it grows 2-3 leaves and at least two pairs of roots from 5 cm long.

The same should be done with baby, which was formed at the bottom, at the roots of the mother plant. At the same time, be careful when inspecting the root system, try not to damage the roots. In principle, in this case, it is not necessary to separate the baby, you can leave it nearby and get two plants in one pot in the future.

If the shoot has grown from the stem of orchid , it is left on the mother plant.

The baby is not separated from the axil of the leaf (stem).

Separate with a sharp, disinfected knife or scalpel. If it is not possible to carefully separate the baby from the peduncle, it can be cut off together with a short fragment of the peduncle. Treat slices with crushed charcoal or cinnamon.

Important! It happens that the baby is trying to bloom, while she herself is still on the peduncle. This should not be encouraged, the peduncle on the baby must be removed without fail.

Planting and growing roots of a young plant

After separation from the mother plant , the baby is planted in a small perforated pot, like an adult plant. Use finer substrate. Before planting, it is useful to treat the orchid with epin and heteroauxin (kornevin) to stimulate root formation, minimize stress and speed up the young plant's adaptation to new growth conditions.

It is highly desirable to place the transplanted baby in a mini-greenhouse. In the conditions of a greenhouse, it is more likely to start growing and increase the maximum possible amount of green mass during the season.

The greenhouse should be located in a well-lit area. Young orchids also need bright diffused light, just like adults.

Optimum temperature strictly in the range from 22 to 28 °C. Feeding can be started two weeks after planting in the substrate. Spray the children with complex fertilizers two to three times a month at a quarter concentration from that indicated on the package.

To prevent mold ventilate the greenhouse every evening for 10-15 minutes - this will also improve gas exchange and the flow of carbon dioxide to plants. The baby will bloom for 2-4 years of life.

Tip! Mini-greenhouse can be made at home from improvised materials.

Possible problems with sprouts

If these recommendations and rules are not followed , some problems may arise with the appearance and cultivation of children , among them:

an adult orchid does not give sprouts;
shoots dry out directly on the mother plant;
shoots refuse to grow roots.

Let's look at these problems in more detail.

Does not form on an adult orchid

Under normal growing conditions, orchids tend to bloom regularly and produce offspring. If this does not happen, you need to review the method of caring for the plant and make sure that all the norms and growing conditions are met.

With proper care, orchids bloom profusely and regularly.

If there are no errors in care, then only then a well-fed plant can be stimulated by stress , for example, by sharply reducing watering for 2-3 weeks, or by using hormonal agents (cytokinin paste) for stimulation.

They dry right on the mother plant

Drying the baby with the mother plant is possible if it takes too much strength. For example, in hot conditions, when the air temperature is more than 28 ° C, orchids experience shock and begin to actively evaporate moisture in an attempt to cool themselves. At the same time, the mother plant may not be able to cope with the supply of moisture to the baby, and the latter dries out after the exhaustion of plastic substances.

It is also possible, if the baby is grown on a weak or diseased plant - it tries to survive, getting rid of everything superfluous.

Refuse to grow roots

If the baby has formed and does not grow roots, pay attention to the humidity of the air around the plant . It should be as high as possible, preferably more than 70%.

If it is not possible to maintain the optimal level of humidity, then the baby can be wrapped in wet sphagnum . Secure the sphagnum with thread or wire.

Useful videos

Conclusion

In general, orchid propagation by children is the most affordable and easiest method for growing plants indoors.