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Is this an odontoglossum orchid?

3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago

My kid really wanted to get into orchids and brought an orchid she found home from Trader Joes. It isn't labeled. Based on an internet search and a book of mine I think it's an odontoglossum. Can anyone confirm this? Any tips for a young kid getting into orchids taking care of one of these?


Comments (8)

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I think I almost recognize it, but can't recall the name. However, as a general rule if not given the parentage all you can say is you have an Oncidium type (or other species).

    This *may* be a belleara (cross name) which contains Oncidium and Miltonia genes.

    Care is generally for oncidium types: Bright light no more than quite early morning sun, aerated roots, water just before becoming dry, moderate temperatures. I have several crosses somewhat like this (but none that exactly match the image).

    There's a whole lot of information on the web, may I recommend orchidboard.com as a reading resource:?

  • 3 years ago

    I agee on Belleara; it seems I have seen this plant on Ebay auctions. These plants like conditions similar to phalaenopsis. Lovely flower!

  • 3 years ago

    Thanks for the comments, I looked them up and it does look like beallara tropic splendor golden gate, at least somewhat. I have a rule in my house that if you buy a plant you will find out what it is and read up on how to care for it. But I couldn't answer what this was, ha. It is a beautiful flower, and lightly scented. Kid's still a bit young to surf the internet, so they're limited to books, but I use orchidboard a lot and learned a lot from it when I started with my own orchids a number of years ago. They have an avocado they grew from seed more than two years ago, a couple air plants, and a brush cherry, but this is the first orchid. Apparently couldn't start with a Phal. Ha.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Well while phals were my first orchids, I find these days dendrobiums and oncidium types are easier for me to grow (and esp the dendrobiums mostly indestructible). In fact I got my first phal in ? well a long time last week (hausermann had some that looked interesting on sale).

  • 3 years ago

    To be honest, I actually started in cattleyas, helping my grandmother with hers (where I learned a lot of my orchid care), then was given my first phal as a housewarming gift by a friend a number of years ago. I have one more that was part of a pair someone gave me to rescue when they were mostly, (and in the case of the second one, all) dead. I only have 3 at the moment as I learned the hard way that some phalaenopsis hybrids can get massive, and don't have much space. I guess the surprise is that the kid has wanted one for a long time but all we have had around lately have been phals. Kid kept pointing out this one or that one they liked, but never wanted to bring it home, then saw this one and it was, apparently, beautiful, sad, and needed a rescue. My last one of those is a zygopetalum with 3ft leaves that is so huge that it has taken over a full corner of the house. Here's to hoping this one's not going to be the same.

  • 3 years ago

    Well they're not tiny and my (18 months ago) 2 1/2 Oncidium is now spiking and will be about 2 1/2 foot tall when fully mature and spiked. I'd say about 1 1/2 on this initial spike though.
    Sounds like you need to specialize in miniature and compact orchids (and there are some).

  • 3 years ago

    I've been thinking about it. But I'm not ready to get rid of my huge orchids yet. I've had them too long. But I've had my eye on some of the tiny ones. Honestly I just need a bigger growing space. Ha. There are too many gorgeous and huge plants to grow.

  • 3 years ago

    Well I know the pain, the spiking Wilsonara Red Stars Rooster lives in the bathroom window...behind the shower curtain on the window....I live in fear of it tumbling and breaking the spike or breaking the opening flowers of the Dendr Green Lantern next to it *lol*. We all need more rooms...but we will expand to fill all available space.

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