Odontonia Samurai

[Mags70]

Hello!

I have a beautiful Odontonia Samurai that unfortunately the flower are drying out by the minutes. Once the flower are dead what shall I do? shall I cut the steam? Sorry for stupid question :-D

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Members of the oncidium family don't rebloom on old spikes, so cut them off with a sterilized tool. Or let the spike turn brown and if clearly dead tissue, you can cut with anything.

[Mags70]

Many thanks for your answer!!! :-)
Does this apply for the Odontioda stirbic wilsonara as well? Sorry I couldn't find this information anywhere!!!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Oncidium alliance includes Odontoglossum, Miltonia, Brassia, and Oncidium, and atleast 83 other genera (Baker & Baker). You can look up your plants in this list to see if they have been combined with one of the above to see if they are an Oncidium complex plant:
http://retirees.uwaterloo.ca/~jerry/orchids/names.html

[housten]

How should one care for an Odontonia Samurai?

thanks!
Heidi

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I would grow it like any other Oncidium, intermediate temps, and something in between Phal light and Catt light. Don't let it dry out very hard, slightly damp, but almost dry, when it is time to water.

[housten]

Originally Posted by Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

I would grow it like any other Oncidium, intermediate temps, and something in between Phal light and Catt light. Don't let it dry out very hard, slightly damp, but almost dry, when it is time to water.

Ok, thanks. Though, as inexperienced as I am I am not quite sure what between Phal light and Catt light means. I do have some fairly happy Phals. Does it like a bit lighter or darker than they do?

[mayres]

Lighter! Morning sun would be good if you have any east exposure. As with any plant, if you move it to an area of higher light start easy and gradually increase the exposure so the plant can get used to it.

[nessar]

Hello! Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I just got myself a rescue odontonia (the store was going to throw it away since it had finished blooming) and was wondering how can I make it most comfortable and possibly get it to bloom again? The problem is that I live in an apartment that's a bit dark (and this is Finland, so it's not like we get too much light anyway most days) so getting it enough light might be a problem. On the other hand, I have two phalaenopsis that are doing just fine...

Also, does anyone have any tips for a ludisia that has just finished blooming? I just cut the dried stems yesterday... Otherwise it's doing great.

(Sorry for any mistakes, English isn't my first language.)

[jerrymeola]

You could have started a new thread but this is OK.

Phals like l light about 1500 foot candles and Cattleya 3500. Oncidium alliance like about 2000-2500, hence light levels in between. AS far north as you are your light levels will always be filtered more since it goes through more sky to reach the ground. Mediterranean light levels are probably as high as 10,11000 on the brightest days and may never reach those levels for you.

you can measure light with a camera Measuring light levels with an SLR camera you can use a digital camera and if the camera does not read the levels take a photo of the white paper and read the exposure with photo software.

Since your Phals are doing well pick a brighter area for the Ondontonia

Ludsia (I am guessing discolor the most common) grow well in lower light and do not need any special care. Cut off the flower stem if you want it is not necessary and let it go. You should begining seeing new growth spread from the current growth in a couple of months.