My Oncidium Orchid

     Oncidium is the genus name for over 300 different types of orchids. I bought this particular oncidium at Peach State Orchids,  http://www.peachstateorchids.com/, which is located outside of Woodstock Georgia. My mom and I had visited the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and decided to stop at this nursery. I found the nursery to be pretty amazing, there were so many different types of orchids available. Three greenhouses full of different varieties of orchids.  

Peach State Orchids

    This variety of Oncidium is called "Sharry Baby Sweet Fragrance". The plant has large pseudo-bulbs, with  long thick dark green leaves. When I bought the plant it had one large flowering stalk developing unopened. After approximately two weeks at home,  it finally started to bloom.  Here is an up close picture of a single bloom.

Oncidium Sharry Baby

      One of the best features of this orchid is the fragrance. The  first few days there was nothing, then one evening I walked into the room and was overwhelmed by a wonderful  scent. It has been described as a chocolate scent, but I would disagree. I would describe it as a sweet, light floral scent. Another interesting fact is that the orchid seems to only release it's scent in the evening. This orchid likes the heat of the day and will gradually release it's scent.

     The plant is fairly tall, with an extremely long flower spike growing from a psuedobulb (up to 3 ft in length). The flower spike is very heavy and it will pull your whole orchid on its side without support. I let my flower spike cascade over the side of the stand.

The care for this kind of orchid is fairly simple.

• Blooms: Late summer to early fall.
• Bloom stalks can grow up to 3 feet long.
• Sun: Full to partial sun, morning sun and afternoon shade is best.
• Water often, do not let media dry out completely.
• Fertilize weekly with orchid fertilizer.

I'm really enjoying this beautiful flower! Even though it has been blooming for over 3 weeks it still manages to fill my dining room with its fragrance each evening. 

Orchids, orchids, orchids!

Has anyone else ever caught the orchid bug? I was given my very first orchid from my mom last February as a congrats for passing my boards. Since then I have been researching, reading and looking like crazy. My first orchid is a Cymbidium, (which is still my favorite.) The flowers are a beautiful yellow that lasted for weeks. The only draw back so far is that there is no smell.
Since February I have changed location of my orchid until it finally choose my large southern bay window. In this location my orchid received bright sunlight for most of the day (this contradicts most of the advice I've received about orchid care.) Watering has been another mystery to me. The advice I have received has been varied, "only water when dry, never let it dry out." I have finally settled on watering every 2nd or 3rd say. The pseudo-bulbs are nice and round with 2 new bulbs this summer! I have also been using orchid fertilizer once a week.
If it ever blooms again I will have to post pics and show that it isn't impossible for orchids to rebloom. I will be posting pics of my other new orchids soon.