Care of Oncidium Twinkle
In comparison to other orchids, Oncidium Twinkle requires simple care to bloom in spring and fall. As an epiphyte, the plant grows attached to trees and rocks, without soil, in the wild. In a pot, it requires an airy medium. The plant's 1/2-inch red, yellow, pink or white fragrant flowers develop in profusion on 10-inch-tall stems. The stalks appear six months ahead of the blooms. Provide the plant continuous care and eventually it will blossom.
Grow Oncidium Twinkle orchids in a small planter filled with potting mix formulated for orchids. Repot the orchid annually in spring. Replace the old orchid soil with a fresh batch. Use a pot designed for orchids, with vertical side drainage holes, for the soil to dry quickly.
Place the pot in a tray filled with pebbles and water to keep the environment humid. If your climate is very dry year-round, such as the Southwest desert, keep a humidifier running in the same room as the orchid.
Provide indirect bright to medium light. An Oncidium tolerates some direct morning sun, but it needs shielding from afternoon rays. Place it by a window with sheer curtains, for example. If the temperature allows, move the pot outdoors in the morning and take it back inside in midday.
- Grow Oncidium Twinkle orchids in a small planter filled with potting mix formulated for orchids.
- Use a pot designed for orchids, with vertical side drainage holes, for the soil to dry quickly.
Control the environment's temperature, keeping it between 68 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the orchid's active growing season. Drop the thermostat to 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit in winter.
Irrigate Oncidium Twinkle until excess water flows out of the drainage holes. Hydrate the plant again in the same manner whenever the soil dries to a depth of 1 inch. Increase irrigation frequency if the plant shrivels.
Feed the plant an orchid fertilizer every other week while it is actively growing. Increase the feeding interval to monthly in winter. Apply the fertilizer according to the rates listed on the label of the brand you selected.
- Control the environment's temperature, keeping it between 68 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the orchid's active growing season.
- Apply the fertilizer according to the rates listed on the label of the brand you selected.
Related Articles
References
Writer Bio
Emma Watkins writes on finance, fitness and gardening. Her articles and essays have appeared in "Writer's Digest," "The Writer," "From House to Home," "Big Apple Parent" and other online and print venues. Watkins holds a Master of Arts in psychology.
