Oncidium lentiginosum

Also known as: The Freckled Oncidium or Oncidium pardalis Oncidium citrinum var. rotundatum in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

General Information

The Freckled Oncidium is a sympodial cool to warm growing orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 33cm. Each new growth has numerous oblong shaped leaves that grow to 3.5-25cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 3.5-8cm. The plant tends to climb or sprawl with each new growth

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 to high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 0mm to 201mm per day, heaviest in August and lightest in March. Humidity ranges from 62% to 81%, highest in August and lowest in March. Temperature ranges from 13C to 28C, highest in March (17C to 28C) and lowest in January (13C to 26C).

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.