Miniature Oncidium ?

[atcrosby]

Last week I was at the greenhouse and they had what appeared to be a small plant with little weeds sprouting out of it. On closer examination, they were long spikes with small small red orchid flowers. They were very fragrant (chocolate / vanilla).

What type of Oncidium is this ? I'll attach two picture of the orchid.

[desertgal]

I believe that it is an Oncidium Sharry Baby. They have that chocolate vanilla flavor.

[philliptan]

I just bought the Onc. Sherry Baby yesterday... but the plant is huge. I didn't know there was a miniature variety? Perhaps it's a hybrid? The blooms look very different.

Miniature oncidiums are classified as Tolumnia.

[mayres]

I'm actually wondering if this is oncidium twinkle 'red fantasy'? I have the white version of twinkle and it is very similar to this in appearance. mike

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I think the twinkle is closer, or a hybrid of it. It was a little hard to tell the size of your flowers in the pictures, but very small flowers would be Twinkle. I have Twinkle 'Golden Fantasy' and it is a very bright yellow. There is also a cream colored Twinkle out there. Cynthia

[Anton]

I tend to go with the Sharry Baby. The photo is the same as the images of the Sharry Baby in one of my orchid books, and in the book it is a miniature and has a chocolate scent.

Does the twinkle have a chocolate scent ?

[philliptan]

Hmmm... I will take a pic of my Sharry Baby (and bump up my post count) and post the link. It doesn't look so pinkish. More like brown and cream.

[atcrosby]

Thanks everyone !!

I have done some reading it has to be Oncidium Twinkle 'Red Fantsay' or some variant of it. Apparently this group has very fragrant flowers and blooms year round in optimal conditions. (Now the challenge starts)

I have seen the Sharry Baby and their flowers are the 'Normal' size for oncidiums.

I am totally enamored by this plant. If successful, i want one of the white and the yellow one too!

Thanks again for your help.

[Anton]

I feel like a child myself, as my wife keeps saying, "That's all I hear, I want, I want".

Now, if we walk past a good orchid specimen in a shop she says, "You DO NOT WANT ! " "REPEAT AFTER ME, I DO NOT WANT !" )

She who must be obeyed usually wins.

[philliptan]

Thankfully my wife is more agreeable...

[arleneg]

Tom, that's the Oncidium Twinkle 'Red Fantasy'. I have Oncidium Twinkle 'Fragrance Fantasy' (white flowers). And, yes, its blooms are fragrant, like the Sharry Baby.

LOL @ Anton. You just have to buy them when your wife isn't with you.

I'm glad my husband is cool about my orchid addiction. But then, we're running out of space in the house. LOL

[Ellen]

Just for the record, Onc Sharry Baby gets really large. The spikes extend a couple of feet above the plant. I was going to post a pic, but keep getting the message that my jpeg file is "not a valid image file". Oh well.

[Anton]

You too Ellen, I have been trying to change my avitar and getting the same message. Doh! Why is this so, things were working fine for a while. :/

[atcrosby]

Don't forget the site got hacked and it's not an easy task to get everything back to normal. I am sure this is not Dave's full time job. As with orchids, patience is needed ...

[Ellen]

Why would anybody hack an orchid forum? I don't get it.