The Oncidium orchid is enchanting with its flowers that resemble a swarm of butterflies. It can be an extraordinary decoration, as long as we take proper care of it and provide it with proper conditions for development and flowering. We tell you how to care for a butterfly orchid.
The orchid genus Oncidium, called the butterfly orchid, is a unique plant that, not without reason, is also called “dancing ladies” or “butterfly orchid”. It is distinguished from other plants of this type by its unusual flowers.
They have petals that are most often yellow or orange. Less often, they are purple. They are characterized by decorative and ruffled edges, which contribute to their flowering this orchid resembles a swarm of butterflies or dresses swirling during a dance.
Another characteristic feature of this plant is its intense flowering, which is impressive because one shoot can bear as many as dozens of flowers at the same time. The wide butterfly orchids are also eye-catching.
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However, if we want the orchid to enjoy its extraordinary flowering, we must take proper care of it. The plant should be placed in a bright place with diffused light. Do not place it in direct sunlight, as it could damage the leaves.
The butterfly orchid develops best at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius during the day and 16 degrees at night. Thanks to this temperature difference, it can bloom better. Another issue we must take care of is the appropriate substrate for the plant. Oncidium needs a special substrate for orchids that guarantees sufficient air circulation and does not retain excess water.
However, when it comes to watering the plant, it should be moderate. The orchid should be fed from the bottom, i.e. by immersing the pot in water. This should be done once a week during the growing season, and once every 2 weeks in winter. The water we use for watering should be boiled.
The butterfly orchid should be fertilized once a month during the growth and flowering period. It is best to use fertilizers intended for orchids.
After the butterfly orchid has finished blooming, we also need to take care of it so that it can enjoy its beauty again in the future. When a flower bud dies, we must gently remove it so that the plant can redirect its energy to further growth.
However, when it comes to leaves, we leave those that are healthy. Sick or wilted leaves should be trimmed to reduce the risk of disease development.
When caring for Oncidium, it is worth being careful because, like most orchids, it is also susceptible to attacks by pests. Spider mites, thrips and mealybugs appear particularly often on the plant. Orchids are also threatened by fungal diseases such as rot or gray mold.
Therefore, in order to prevent pests and diseases, it is worth checking your plant regularly and providing it with proper growing conditionspaying particular attention to air circulation and adequate watering.
The first symptoms that should worry us are: discoloration and deformation of leaves, as well as visible changes on the roots. As soon as we notice them, we should take action. Remove the infected parts of the plant and use the selected protection agent.
