How to Grow and Care for Oncidium Orchid (Dancing Lady Orchid) Indoors
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Oncidium Orchids (Dancing Lady Orchids) flourish in bright light with some direct sunshine, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.
Oncidium Orchids also called Golden Shower Orchids or Spray Orchids are popular Orchids which are grown for their profusion of brightly colored flowers with a dominant enormous lip.
They produce a profusion of small flowers with a dominant enormous lip which partially blocks the small petals and sepals.
Dancing Lady orchids are magnificent bloomers where a well cared for plant can produce 6-7 branched sprays of flowers which look like a cloud of buttery butterflies which last for weeks. The flowers come in shades of yellow, red, white and pink.
Most of the Oncidiums grown indoors have large pseudobulbs and their long leaves about 2 feet long emerge from the pseudobulbs. The roots are a mass of thin white roots.
Botanical name: Oncidium
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Cymbidieae
Subtribe: Oncidiinae
Common names: Dancing Lady Orchid, Golden Shower Orchid, Spray Orchid
Origin
Oncidium is a genus of orchids distributed across South America, Central America and West Indies. They usually occur in seasonally dry areas.
The genus name Oncidium is derived from the Greek word onkos meaning "swelling" in reference to the callus at the lower lip. The genus name is abbreviated as Onc. in horticultural journals. Many hybrids and cultivars of Oncidium Orchids have been developed.
Toxicity
Oncidium Orchids are non-toxic to both humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. They are safe to grow indoors.
Where to Buy
Would you like to add Dancing Lady Orchids to your collection? They are available online from Amazon (Link to Amazon) or from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Oncidium Orchid Care Indoors
Oncidium Orchids (Dancing Lady Orchids) flourish in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunshine, average warmth of 15-290C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, orchid potting soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.
Dancing Lady Orchids require regular pruning to keep them neat as well as encourage flowering. Repotting is needed only when they become pot-bound or the soil becomes completely broken down. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.
Light Requirements
Oncidium Orchid grows best in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. However, keep it away from hot midday sunshine to avoid sun scorch on the leaves.
An Oncidium Orchid that is receiving the right amount of light has light-green leaves. Dark green leaves indicate that the orchid needs more light. Yellowish leaves means that the orchid is receiving too much light.
If the natural lighting is inadequate, you may grow Dancing Lady Orchid under grow lights. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Regularly turn the pot to ensure that the orchid receives adequate light on all sides for uniform growth.
Watering
Water Oncidium Orchid thoroughly during the growing season and allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.
Cut down on watering during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time to maintain the soil slightly moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Drooping or wrinkly leaves indicate that you are underwatering the orchid. The leaves of a well watered Oncidium Orchid are firm and smooth.
Oncidium Orchids are sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals dissolved in water, therefore, water with chlorine-free water like rain water.
Use water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking the plant as it can cause reduced growth. Avoid wetting the foliage as it can lead to fungal diseases.
Golden Shower Orchids like Brassavola Orchids are more tolerant to dry soil due to their tubular shaped leaves which are designed to reduce water loss through transpiration. As such, take care not to overwater.
Temperature and Humidity
The best temperatures for Oncidium Orchid is an average warmth of 15-290C. Warmer days and cooler night temperatures with a difference of 10-150C are ideal for this Orchid. The cool nights are essential to trigger flowering.
Keep it away from drafts to avoid sudden changes in temperature as they can cause leaf drop and reduced growth. Make sure that there is good air circulation as the orchid cannot tolerate hot and stuffy conditions.
Moderate humidity of 50-55% is ideal for Oncidium Orchids. Where the air is too dry, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity. Do not mist the leaves as it can lead to fungal disease infestations. Learn more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Occasionally clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust as well as discourage pest and disease infestation. Make sure that there is good ventilation to minimize fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
Feed Oncidium Orchid during the growing season with an orchid's fertilizer as per the manufacturer's instructions. Do not feed in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time. Also, do not feed an orchid that is in flower as it can shorten the flowering period.
It is better to err on the side of underfeeding than overfeeding the Dancing Lady Orchid as overfeeding may result in loss of the roots thus death of the orchid. If you overfeed the orchid, it can also lead to vegetative growth at the expense of flower production.
Potting Mix
Pot your Oncidium Orchid in loose, well-drained orchid soil to avoid getting soggy soil which can cause rotting and death of the plant.
Repotting
Oncidium Orchid blooms best when it is pot-bound. Repot it only when growth begins to suffer. Repot when the orchid has outgrown its pot and the new growth reaches out over the edge of the pot or when the soil has broken down completely.
Basically repotting an Oncidium Orchid every 2-3 years should be adequate. Repot it only when new growth begins, shortly after blooming is over. Do not repot an orchid that is in flower as it may shorten the flowering season.
The best pot should be only 1 size larger than the current one and with proper drainage holes or slits as the roots need good air circulation. Take a look at these orchid pots with a free slotted orchid pot liner on Amazon.
When repotting, shake off excess soil and trim off any dried and shrivelled pseudobulbs. The large orchid (one with about 6 or more pseudobulbs) should be divided, (retain 3 shoots on each section) to propagate new plants.
Pruning
Pruning Oncidium Orchid involves removal of dead and diseased leaves by cutting them at the base with sharp scissors or a knife. When flowering is over, cut the flower stalk 1 in. above the 3rd node from the bottom to encourage more flowers.
Propagation
Oncidium Orchids (Dancing Lady Orchids) propagation can be done at the beginning of the growing season from rhizomes or from keikis (baby orchids).
How to propagate Oncidium Orchid by rhizome division
Gently split the Oncidium Orchid rhizome into sections while ensuring there are at least 3 shoots on each section. Seperate the roots attached to each division from the mother root-ball.
Remove the old potting soil attached to the section roots and place each section in the center of the pot.
Bury the roots of the section in the soil while ensuring that the bottom of the pseudobulb is level with the top of the soil.
The best pot for the Oncidium Orchid section should be about 1-2 inches larger than the pseudobulb.
Confirm that the pot has enough drainage holes and slits to prevent root-rot.
Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight until the sections have established their own roots.
Water the new Oncidium Orchids lightly to enhance root development. Stake each newly repotted plant to prevent it from toppling over.
How to propagate Oncidium Orchid from keikis
Oncidium Orchids naturally produce "baby" orchids called "keiki" which normally appear on an old or new flower spike. Keikis are identical copies of the parent plant.
Keiki growth can be triggered by prolonged exposure to high temperature during the final phase of spike growth.
The keiki can be detached from the mother Dancing Lady Orchid when about one year old when it has developed 2-3 leaves and 1-3 inches long roots.
Pot the keiki in fresh potting medium and direct the roots of the keiki downwards and provide support to prevent it from toppling over.
Place the set up in a well-lit, brightly-lit place and mist the keiki regularly to maintain a humid enviroment.
Allow the new Dancing Lady Orchid to be well established before transplanting it after which routine care can begin.
Oncidium Orchids Problems
Oncidium Orchids (Dancing Lady Orchids) problems include black leaf tips, lack of blooms, mold, drooping leaves, leaf spots, discolored leaves, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more details on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
No blooms
One possible reason why Oncidium Orchid will not bloom (flower) is too little light. Move the Orchid to a brighter spot and ensure it is receiving bright light or instal a grow light where the natural light is not adequate. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
The second possible reason why Dancing Lady Orchid is not blooming (flowering) is overfeeding. Overfeeding can result in vegetative growth at the expense of flowers production.
Feed the orchid during the growing season with an orchid's fertilizer as per the manufacturer's instructions. Do not feed it in the cold season and take care not to overfeed it. Learn how to feed houseplants.
Mold on the leaves
Mold on the leaves in Oncidium Orchid is an indication of powdery mildew which is brought about by overwet conditions. Do not mist the leaves as misting the leaves may lead to mildew growth if the water does not evaporate quickly. Ensure good air circulation and stop misting the orchid.
Brown soft leaf spots
Brown soft leaf spots in Oncidium Orchid are an indication of leaf spot disease. Remove the affected leaves immediately to prevent further spread and ensure there is free air circulation.
Limp and drooping leaves
Limp and drooping leaves in Oncidium Orchid are caused by underwatering. Water the orchid thoroughly during the growing season and allow only the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings to maintain the soil moderately moist.
>Reduce watering in the cold season and keep the soil slightly moist as growth is reduced at this time. However, do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water houseplants the right way.
Leaf tips turning black and dying
The cause of black leaf tips in Oncidium Orchid is the presence of chemicals like chlorine and flourides in the water or accumulation of salts in the soil. Use chlorine-free water only and flush out accumulated salts from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil for about 10 minutes until it comes out through the drainage holes.
Brown hard and dry leaf spots
Exposure of Oncidium Orchid to direct sunshine will result in scorch marks which are brown hard and dry leaf spots. Move the orchid to a shadier spot or protect it from hot direct sunshine.
Yellowish leaves
Yellowish leaves in Oncidium Orchid indicate that the orchid is getting too much light. Move it to a shadier spot. The leaves of a Oncidium Orchid that is receiving bright light should be light-green.
Dark-green leaves
Dark green leaves in Oncidium Orchid indicate that the orchid is not getting enough light. Move the orchid to a brighter spot or instal a grow light if the natural light is not adequate. The leaves of a Dancing Lady Orchid that is receiving the correct light should be light-green.
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