Oncidium fuscopetalum

Also known as: The Dark in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Brazil

General Information

The Dark is a sympodial intermediate to hot growing orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Brazil.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Each new growth has numerous arching leaves that grow to 6-15cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 2.5-5cm

Climate

The orchids are well adapted for hot weather, accompanied by sporadic, unpredictable rainfall and a generally dry climate. They can tolerate a lot of neglect as they are quite used to it, however they can be prone to underwatering and may collapse in cold, wet weather.

For this reason it's best to dedicate a sheltered, protected area for them where the watering can be controlled, such as a corner of a greenhouse or in a sheltered balcony. They can also do well hung near the roof of a shadehouse or sheltered greenhouse where they receive the extra heat but not as much water as other plants. 

Grows at low elevations. Rainfall ranges from 8mm to 254mm per day, heaviest in July and lightest in January. Humidity ranges from 59% to 80%, highest in August and lowest in March. Temperature ranges from 16C to 34C, highest in March (23C to 34C) and lowest in January (16C to 31C).

Watering

These orchids are sensitive to excessive watering and should only be watered when they look thirsty. Water infrequently and ensure that the roots are dry before watering. Keep an eye on them especially during hot weather as overwatering can lead to rot, whereas underwatering may result in wilting or shriveling, which while unattractive, will not kill the plant.