This representative of the Orchid family is also called "dancing pupae" and not so long ago began to gain popularity among fans of house plants.
Oncidium, without any doubt, will be a great decoration for your home.
However, such a flower to please the eye longer requires proper care.
Description
Such orchids have a sympodial branch type. The height and size of the plant depends on the species: there are oncidia that resemble irises and do not grow more than 15 cm, but there are rather large flowers of this type with pronounced pseudobulbs producing lanceolate leaves. Heat-loving oncidiums have more rigid leaves than shade-loving ones, which, in turn, are distinguished by thin leaves. 
These plants bloom in flowers, gathered in racemes, which can vary in length from 10 cm to 5 m. The flowers have a pleasant aroma and differ in appearance, depending on the variety. In diameter, they can be either 1 cm or 12 cm. One cannot specifically name any one color of oncidiums, but it can be stated that yellow and red-brown shades predominate in the color of such flowers.
Did you know? In America, an orchid with the eloquent name "Rosanna Pinky", having the shape of a boat, was sold for $ 4,500. However, it was not the most expensive such flower. The cost of an orchid "Gold Kinabalu", which is the rarest type of orchid and blooms exclusively after reaching the age of 15, can exceed $ 5,000.
Sorta
This genus is distinguished by a high diversity of representatives. In nature, there are both oncidia growing on stones in the hottest and driest regions of the Earth, and moisture-loving orchids for growing at home. Regarding the latter, hybrids of oncidia, which are most often found on store shelves, are 'Sweet Sugar', 'Sharry Baby' and 'Twinkle'.
Familiarize yourself with the basics of caring for other representatives of orchids: ludysia, bliltila, vanda, hellfire, cattley, cambric hybrid.
'Sweet Sugar'
Differs in small double-faced pseudobulbs, which are carefully attached to each other. Flowers have a yellow color, diameter - 3 cm. The height of such a plant can reach 35 cm. This species is the most common, because not very whimsical in care and does not require undue attention.
'Sharry Baby'
The main distinctive feature of this hybrid is a pleasant, pronounced the smell of honey and chocolate. On such a plant there are many small flowers (diameter - 3.8 cm) of dark-violet, red with white or yellow-brown color. One inflorescence of this plant can carry several dozen flowers. In height the orchid can grow up to 70 cm.
'Twinkle'
Hybrid "Twinkle" has even smaller flowers (diameter - 1.5 cm) than the orchids of the two previous varieties. Also has a pleasant aroma. Flowers tend to be white, purple, yellow, pink, or red. The length of the stem can reach 1 m.
Choosing one of the oncidia in the store, it is necessary to pay attention to the number of bulbs per plant: there should be at least three of them. It is also better to take a flower with leaves on which there are no spots, as they usually mean that the flower is sick. The ideal plant - the roots of which stick out to the surface from dry soil.
Did you know? There are about 35,000 different types of orchids in the world. This is 10% of the number of all terrestrial plants. All types of orchids, without exception, have their own unique features. For example, some species that need pollination with flies and bees have learned to almost exactly imitate female insects and produce aromas that attract male insects.
Growing conditions
So that the plant does not cease to bloom immediately after purchase, does not hurt, and further develops to your delight, it needs the right conditions. This must be taken into account when deciding to create such a flower at home. Almost all types of oncidium suit the same conditions that are easy to provide.
Learn how to properly care for phalaenopsis orchid and what to do if a flower withers leaves.
Temperature
Regardless of the type of hybrid you choose for home keeping, the best temperature for the plant will be 15-26 ° ะก. However, if the temperature in the room where the pot is, does not exceed 17 ° C, the plant should not be sprayed with water to prevent the occurrence of fungal diseases. 
Air humidity
On a standard window sill, room oncidia has enough moisture (40%), so often such a flower does not require additional manipulations on your part to increase the level of moisture in the air. But if your orchid is standing near the heater and the humidity of the air does not reach 40%, it is necessary to spray it or wipe the leaves from time to time.
Read also about the popular types and care of the Dendrobium orchid.
Lighting
Oncidiums are flowers that love the light but not too brightthey have enough ordinary scattered sunlight. On how much light will receive orchids, depends on the pomp of the flower: more light - the flower is more magnificent. If a plant has enough light, it can be determined by its leaves: if they have a saturated and uniform green color, it means that they do not have a lack of lighting; if the leaves are yellowish or with brown or white spots, it is necessary to rearrange the flower to a more lighted place.
Familiarize yourself with the types and basics of Cymbidium orchid care.
The soil
Oncidia grow in the soil, which consists of pine bark, charcoal, river sand and chalk. To maintain the desired level of humidity and filter out excess salt from the water, sphagnum moss is placed on top of the soil. 
Care
As well as the conditions of maintenance of such a plant, the proper care of an oncidium orchid at home is also important. It comes down to all the standard procedures that any indoor plants need: fertilizer, watering, pruning, and sometimes - transplanting.
Watering
Such plants should be watered when their bright roots on the surface and the substrate in which they grow dry. However, this should not be done immediately: after you notice that the roots have grown, you need to give them a little dry out and breathe. When the weather is warm, water oncidium should be watered 3-4 times a month, in the rainy or winter period it can be done less often - 1-2 times a month. The best way to water is to put the pot in warm, clean water for 20 minutes. In this case, not all the container with a flower should be immersed in the water, but only 1/3 of it.
We advise you to read about the types, care, problems of growing orchids miltonia, as well as about the care of miltoniopsis.
Top dressing
Oncidium should be fed during the growth of young shoots and suspend fertilizer during the formation of bulba. When the flower appears, the dressing must be renewed. The fertilizer solution marked "for orchids" should be weak - 1:10 or 1: 8. 
Pruning
In those plants, remove those parts of the bulb on which the outputs of the mycelium or other lesions are visible. Also - spotty and hollow areas. This is done with a sharp knife, after which it is necessary to treat the places where the incision was made, with garden pitch or crushed coal.
Important! Through a knife, which cut off the affected pieces of the bulb, transmitted bacterial, fungal diseases and many other diseases. Therefore, working with several plants at once, after pruning each one, the instrument must be sterilized. Best of all - by fire.
Transfer
These orchids - not lovers of transplants. But if after the purchase you found a lump of moss inside the pot, if the roots began to rot, the substrate turned into a dusty substance or the sprouts began to grow strongly, the flower must be transplanted. Planned transplants should be done when the young bulbe only have to start their growth roots.
Learn how to properly apply cytokinin paste for breeding orchids.
For transplantation use pine bark of an average fraction. This process must be carried out in several stages:
- Place a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot.
- Put on the drainage pieces of bark.
- Dip the plant in a pot and cover it with smaller pieces of bark (so that the bulb does not fully sink into the soil, it can be seen on the surface).
- Make sure that the oncidium in the substrate is not loose (if it is loose, fasten with a stick and rope).
Important! It is not recommended to divide a large bush into several small ones, because in the case of orchids new sprouts are not "children", and the continued growth of one bush. If they are separated, the oncidium will not bloom for several years.
Diseases and pests
Mealybug is the most common pest attacking orchids. The first sign that your plant has been exposed to it is white lumps on the oncidium, which look like cotton wool. To save a flower from such a misfortune, it is necessary to remove these lumps with a piece of cloth or a tampon dipped in alcohol, and then process with Aktara.
Also oncidium can affect aphid, sheath or spider mite. They suck the juice from the plant, settling on the bulbs, leaflets or stems. As a result, the leaves become spotty, dry and fall off.
Such pests should be removed from the plant swab dipped in alcohol or soapy water. You can process the flower homemade infusion of one tsp. onions and one glass of water (the infusion should be a day).
It is not excluded the oncidium damage by fungi or bacteria. In this case, leaves appear on the leaves, which must be removed. It is also necessary to stop spraying the plant with water and treat it with appropriate means (fungicide + "Tetracycline"). Orchid oncidium is a wonderful choice of home flower. However, this choice must be made correctly, paying attention in the store to the color of the leaves and the number of flowers. Just buy and put a flower at home is not enough: you need to find the right place for it, provide the necessary conditions and care, and only then your orchid will be healthy, beautiful and always blooming.
