Oncidium Golden Anniversary

Oncidium Golden Anniversary is a hybrid registered in January 1979 by Corbet. It’s parents are Oncidium spacelatum and Oncidium Sarcatum. This plant produces sprays up to a meter in length with multiple branches. Flowers are slightly bigger but lesser in quantity than the “Golden Shower” commonly seen at super-marts or florists in Singapore. It seems that the size and quantity are inversely proportional. Several plants come to mind which produces lesser but larger flowers compared to their cousins – Cattleya (bi- vs uni-foliate) and Phaleanopsis. The flowers lasts for about a month.

Oncidiums are sympodial and future flowering will depend on the success of new growths to maturity. They are believed to be the third most commonly cultivated orchid genus after Cattleya and Dendrobiums.

Oncidiums are commonly referred to as “Dancing Ladies” because the flowers resemble a figure of a lady swirling on the dance floor. Their flowers are mostly yellow & brown combination. This genus comprised of approximately 600 species. They are natives of South and Central America.

They are considered easy orchids to grow. Grow them in bright lights but out of direct mid-day sun to avoid scorching of their leaves. Water well year round but let media dry between watering. Fertilize lightly and consistently throughout. The ones commonly available here can flower year round as soon as the pseudobulbs mature. Ensure good air circulation.

Dendrobium anosmum

Dendrobium anosmum flowers produces a wonderfully sweet fragrance which is described as “raspberry jam” by Peter O'Byrne in his book A to Z of South East Asian Orchid Species.

I have the purple variety. This plant also has a version, which has white sepals and petals and a purple throat. The white ones can be found in the orchidarium of the NOG at Singapore Botanic Gardens.

This plant is native to Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. This plant is deciduous and the ones in my garden blooms once a year between February to April. I would consider this plant easy to grow and does well in my garden. It is best mounted on fern bark or just a slab of wood so that there is no need to worry about supporting the long slender canes and they look wonderful hanging down. The canes would loose their leaves just before setting buds. The flowers generally last about 2 weeks to 3 weeks tops. Shortly after flowering, new growths are seen at the base on the mounts or sometimes keikis are seen along the canes as well.

Books I read has advised to cut back watering from October to give it a dry spell and induce bud setting. Resume normal watering and fertilizing after flowers have faded and when new growths are seen at the base of the plant. The new growths will become long slender canes up to a meter in length if well taken care of. They will bear between 8 – 10 flowers in the next season.

It’s being a while

Has been busy and finally have an opportunity of a little “slack” while a waiting for new assignment to start to re-vitalize my plants.

My orchids had suffered since the rainy days towards the end of 2005 where the frequent rain puts off my chemical spraying schedule and job pressure plus the festivities of the new year has being pulling me awaying from my plants till late.

When I got more time recently, I began counting the casualties – 3 Phalenopsis, 2 Renantheras, 2 Dendrobiums and 3 Paphiopedilums. Mites were responsible for the demise of the Phaleanopsis and a combination of rot & fungus kills the rest. Despite the fact that mites prefer a dry environment, they seem to have adapted to the higher level of humidity here and flourish rapidly and caused lots of damages after the rain spell ends. When I returned to the garden, I had since rescued 2 Dendrobiums from mealy bugs (first time I see mealies at my orchids) and stopped 3 Phaleanopsis from dying. Now new leaves appearing after 6 weeks of vigilance and chemical warfare.

Now there 3 Dendrobium anosmum in bloom together with 2 Dendrobium Thai Jasmine, Brassavola cordata, Oncidium Golden Anniversary, Rhynchovanda Colmarie and Vanda lamellate. The latter 2 have been bloomed regularly.

Besides, both my Encyclia cordigera are spiking together with 2 Cycnodes Wine Delight, Oncidium Golden Anniversary, Rhynchorides Memoria Suranaree and 3 Rhynchostylis gigantea in spike.

With the rot and pests under control, I have to start to refresh the place. Just re-potted all the Spathoglottis with burnt soil plus a handful of compost and organic fertilizer last Saturday. Being experimenting with different mixes and this seems to wok best. If weather permits, will be re-arranging the Mokaras and Renantheras this weekend with new plant support.