http://www.hamlynorchids.com/onc.html

Systematics

Description

Distribution & Habitat

Culture

Propagation

Uses

References

Description

• Fat, folded leaves
• Pseudobulbs
• Warty calluses
• Long arching spike-like leaves 10-40 inches long
• Numerous brown and yellow flowers in spring to early summer
  

Distribution and Habitat

• Martinique
• St. Vincent (Lesser Antilles)
• Argentina
• Honduras (Mex-Gautemala)
• Brazil
• Guatemala
• Jamaica

http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/200000110.html

 Cultural Information

Soil · Mule ear oncidiums can be grown on slabs of cork barkor tree ferns or in a pot filled with a course, well drainedmedium such as charcoal, which allows the required drying between watering.

Water requirement · Watering should be thorough and the medium should be dry at least half way through before watering again. This may be every ewo to ten days, depending on weather, pot size and material, and type of potting medium. Plants not actively growing should be watered less.

Light · Mule ear oncidiums thrive in several hours of sun each day. In a greenhouse, 20-60% shade required. In the home, east, west, or south windows are ideal. For artificial growth, four flourescent tubes supplemented with incandescent bulbs and placed 6-12 inches above the plants are necessary. Metal halide and sodium vapor bulbs also provide sufficient light without bbeing so close to the plants.
Humidity · Humidity should be between 30% and 60%. Most greenhouses have adequate humidity. In the home, placing the plant above moist pebbles is ideal.
Temperature · Temperatures are generally considered intermediate to warm: 55-60F during the day and 80-85F at night. Temperatures as high as 95-100F are tolerated if the humidty and air movement are increased as the temperatures rise.
Other · Fertilize regularly while plants are actively growing. Applications of 30-10-10 formulations twice a month aare ideal for plants in a bark-based medium. A 20-20-20 formulation should be used for plants in other media or for plants on slabs. If skies are couldy, appications once a moth are sufficient. Potting should be done when new growth is about one-hald mature, which is usually in the spring. The plant should be positioned in teh pot so that the newest frowth is furthest from the edge of the pot, allowing the maximum amount of mew growht before crowding the pot. Spead the roots over a cone of potting medium and fill in aroud the roots. Keep humidity high and potting medium dry until new roots form.

http://www.theaos.org/orchids/culture/oncidium.pdf

Propagation Methods

Step 1. Remove the cymbidium fro its container and divide the plant. Potbound specimens may require a saw to cut though the dense rootball. Be sure to sterilize the cutting tool to prevent the spread of virus.

Step 2. Divide the clump into divisions consisting of several pseudobulbs each. There should be at least one active growth or lead in each division. Remove dead roots and loose potting material from aroung the roots. Sever bulbs without leaves and weak backbulbs for potting in separate containers. Preparea label for each plant that gives the complete name.

Step 3. Position each division in a contaner and fill with a porous mix. Water thoroughly and then wait four to sic weeks befoew watering again. Misting the foliage may be beneficial. Insert a label in each container.

Step 4. Pot backbulbs in containers or group several in a flat to save space. Put moistened sphagnum moss around the roots. When shoots appear, pot the backbulbs in individual containers.

http://www.theaos.org/orchids/culture/oncidium.pdf

Uses/ Fun Facts

 Mule ear orchids are ornamental flowers used for aesthetic purposes.

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 General References

http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/200000110.html

http://argyll.epsb.edmonton.ab.ca/jreed/jhscience/9science/unita/htm

http://chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/OrchidsSNS/bot-i-z.html

http://www.theaos.org/orchids/culture/oncidium.pdf

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Image References:

http://www.hamlynorchids.com/onc.html

This page was developed by:

Brooke Nicole Bosley, W&J Class of 2001

 

Last revised on 26 April 2001