Oncidium: orchids not so simple

The Oncidium has a name whose origin is not very engaging Greek: onkos means tumor. And yet, most varieties of this orchid is similar nicknames. Luckily, they are not too public, the Oncidium is rather known as the Orchid "golden rain", the host of golden yellow flowers are there for many. There are 400 different species of this orchid, all from Central and South America, they are all adapted to a different environment: snowy mountains, high plateaus and rainforests. After studying their environment, they were organized into 4 groups to better cultivated by genre. Some do not have pseudo bulbs, which radically changes its maintenance in relation to the general maintenance of the Oncidium. No fear to locate yours, his group is usually indicated among the maintenance instructions, otherwise check with a forum on the net. Start with the first comprising among others Kramerianum, and Papilio Tolumnia. Its culture is warm with around 40,000 lux per day (0 being black and 100 000 total light emitted by the sun at zenith). They appreciate the warmth, aim for 25 ° C day and 20 degrees at night in summer and 20 during the day and 15 at night during the winter. Oncidiums among the second group we find the ornithorhynchum, cheirophorum, macranthum ... Their culture is cold, they need just 18 ° C day and 12 at night in summer and in winter between 8 and 14. The amount of light is also strongly lower with 20 000 lux. Do not hesitate to offer a light meter to provide the best for your plants. Growth takes place throughout the year, his regular watering will be a slowdown still in winter. The substrate should be moist but not soggy, make sure its frequent ventilation at the risk of root rot. The third group is an exception since its members do not have pseudo-bulbs and more memorable nicknames are rigged. You will find carthagenense lanceanum and tell "mule ears", and then splendidum calochilum tell "rat tail" more common as an orchid can be, the sphacelatum, and leucochilum pulchellum. The list is large. With no pseudo-bulbs, they do not have enough to keep the nutrients in the water, so you have to water them all the time, although it should slow down in winter. Its culture is humid and temperate, only 20 000 lux, and the temperatures required are within the average of the two previous groups. Finally the last group contains Oncidiums ampliatum, bifolium, macrulatum, tigrimum, flexuosum, forbesii, varicosum and many more. All together the kind of unclassifiable because their culture depends on the season: an unusual among the orchids. In the spring, heat between 18 and 25 ° C during the day and lower up to 16 ° C at night, offering a moderate light or full sun, watering should be abundant. In summer, they offer de18 ° C to 25 ° C during the day and 15 ° C to 20 ° C night, and finally the sun veiled, but still abundant watering. In the fall, go to 12-15 ° C day and 10-12 ° C at night, do not hesitate to give maximum sunlight possible, but reduce watering as the temperature decreases. And in winter, go up to 18 ° C or 22 ° C daytime, but keep 10 to 12 ° C at night and continue to give up the sun.