New to Orchids and their Care

[CaroleRAK]

My good friend just gave me a "Oncidium Gower Ramsey" orchid to cheer me up since I recently returned home after my father passed away. It was a very thoughtful gesture. But I am really new to orchids and do not know how to care for this lovely plant. So I am asking for tips on how to care for it so I can continue to enjoy this beautiful orchid. Any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

CaroleRAK

[gwendy]

I'm new to orchids too, but here's the link to the American Orchid Society's care sheet for Oncidium:

http://www.orchidweb.org/aos/uploade...edoncidium.pdf

Hope that helps!

[janet_a]

carole, where are you located and what's the plant potted in?

[jerrymeola]

care varies a lot on where you live and whether you want to try to grow it inside or out.

Oncidium Grower Rqamsey is an easy grower and expands rapidly. I have a neighbor with one 8 feet wide and 4 feet high. It had 4000 flowers this year. This one has been growing outside in Florida for 14 years.

Yours is probably potted in sphagnum moss. This holds the extra moisture the plant likes. It is a little hard to describe sphagnum moss but if it is not bark chips then it is probably moss. Watering should be heavy allowing the excess water to drain out. Then allow the plant to dry out before watering again. Sphagnum turns hard white when dry and softens to a light brown color when wet. Growing in bark requires a little more care. It is harder to determine the water retained in the bark.

The plant likes medium light levels. Good morning sun with afternoon shade is best. This will vary depending on where in the country you live. Light level is the most important factor necessary for the plant to reflower next year. Oncidium Ramsey Grower is a once a year bloomer.

These are tolerant plants and should do well for you.