Anyone manage to bloom Onc velutinum?

[pavel]

Have had the lil devil for two or 3 years now. Couldn't say no a micro-mini. Plant has grown slowly for me but no indication that it has ever even entertained the idea of blooming. Presently growing it with my minicatts.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Try increasing the light. Oncids need high light to bloom. Although mini catts bloom in bright light, oncids need much higher levels. Are the leaves dark green or light yellow green? If they are dark, it is a light issue.

Cheers!
BD

[bluemoon]

try to move it to a complete darkness room for a couple of night.

[Piper]

Quite cool. A species with specific hmm...word roots are similar - go figure! tastes that demands what it wants. I know nothing about them, but it would be very cool if Bluemoon's suggestion did the trick. May also need to be done at the right time of year (in synch with its growth habit.)

Whoa - maybe I can help!

Just for kicks, I checked Orchidwiz a database that has many of the AOS and RHS registrations. I think I see your difficulty getting cultural information...this guy is like an international terrorist, with more ID's than Interpol can track!

Its aliases include:

Onc. velutinum (the recognized name in this database)
variegatum
bahamense
caymanense
furcyense wonder where furcy is, and if it has lovely beaches...
leiboldii
sasseri
scandens
varvelum

Many of these species names also appear under the genus Tolumnia, which tells us this puppy is an equitant Onc. (Which you probably already knew from it's foliage!) Armed with that knowledge, here's a link with more info:

http://www.angelfire.com/or3/orchids.../oncframe.html

Good luck, Pavel! How's peanut?

Julie

[pavel]

Well Bruce, I wouldn't say the leaves are dark green ... more on the medium to light shade. Here's a pic.



It's in a 2.5 inch pot in case anyone is curious.

Oh, and Julie, funny you should ask about Peanut. I'll be posting a couple of pics in a little bit, she just molted yesterday.

[jtlqh]

I saw the culture info from one of the species plant seller for this Tol:

light:
Bright to Full Sun; 2750-3750 Footcandles (midday shade required)

watering (for his plant which is in stick mount):
Dry; 1-2 waterings per week(let dry between waterings)

Temperature:
Warm to Intermediate;60°F min. to 90°F max.

And the seller listed it as easy grower.

Qing

[mitcholito]

This Oncidium is actually now Tolumnia velutina. Native to Cuba. Growing there in exposed condition. Wants to dry out fast after watering.
I should give it more light and mount it with just a small piece of sphag behind roots. Your plant looks healthy but lacks the signs of tanning it gets when it have enough light.
A real gem IMO :o)

[orchid-man]

heres another link that might help

http://www.orchidspecies.com/tolvelutinum.htm

[jtlqh]

Here is my tol triquetrum I just received last week. The actual size is much smaller than it seems and the flower is as big as my little finger. It is mounted on a stick (1" in diameter). The culture sheet said it should be watered 2 to 3 times a week. It only has a tiny bit of sphag attaching to the roots and it dryes out with 1 or 2 hours after watering.

Qing