Oncidiinae Intergenerics preface

Oncidiinae Intergenerics
and how to grow them

Vuylstekeara Saint Mary "Everglades" HCC/AOS

Few would deny Phalaenopsis the title of king in the realm of orchid pot plants. In the last few years, however, contenders for the title that are gaining popularity around the world have emerged - the Oncidiinae Intergenerics.

The history of these intergeneric (more than one genus involved) combinations is quite long, going back to the first hybrids of Odontioda (Odontoglossum x Cochlioda), Vuylstekeara (Miltonia x Odontioda) and Odontonia (Miltonia x Odontoglossum), created by hybridizers in England and Europe in the early 1800s.

Those early hybridizers did the world a favor in popularizing not only Odontoglossums (commonly called 'odonts') but, among others, the above-mentioned intergeneric combinations. The principal drawback to the majority of those beautiful hybrids, however, is the necessity for cool temperatures year round, which limits their easy culture to only a few parts of the world.

In recent years, we have witnessed the emergence of temperature-tolerant Oncidiinae, a descriptive term that I apply to those plants that will thrive in temperatures from 45º to 100º F. In the past several years, it has become apparent that certain select clones contain all the necessary criteria for superb pot plants, to wit: strong, compact growth, beautifully colored or patterned flowers, strong, erect-to-arching inflorescences, long-lasting flowers (usually a month or more on the plant), ease of culture, lowlight requirements (allowing easy home cultivation on a windowsill or under fluorescent lights), and, of paramount importance, the ability to grow and flower well in warm or cool climates.

Length of inflorescence is important, for while a hobby grower with lots of room might enjoy a plant with a 5-foot inflorescence, the general public purchasing a pot-plant orchid will prefer a more manageable on e, say 12 to 24 inches in length. Lighter or darker colors will be popular in different countries of the world with local tastes changing slightly over the years. In general, colors must be clear and well defined (not muddy). Flowering seasons will vary, with many clones blooming more than once per year, and at any time. Eventually, the large commercial growers will determine which clones will bloom at what times of the year under their conditions naturally, or if they can be manipulated to flower when they want them to.