Other Odontoglossum species which may be tried as house plants include 0. bictoniense, a soft, green leaved species from Mexico which is continuously growing and which produces long upright sprays of up to twenty-five pretty flowers. The petals are green barred with brown, the heart shaped lip is white often suffused with pink. Flowering during the summer, it will continue to bloom for many weeks. 0. pulchellum, has pure white flowers with yellow centres which are produced from oval shaped bulbs which bear two narrow leaves. This species is fragrant and also comes from Mexico. It propagates and divides easily. None of the South American species of Odontoglossum or Miltonia are available these days as house plants. They will only be found in cultivation in limited quantities in botanical collections where they have become collector’s items, or in the stud houses of orchid breeders.
Oncidium species which are readily available and recommended for indoor growing are Oncidium tigrinum from Mexico which has a habit of growth closely resembling that of the Odontoglossums, while the flowers are carried on long branched sprays. The most prominent feature of all Oncidiums is the lip, and that of tigrinum is no exception. This is large and rounded, and coloured a bright canary yellow. The petals are smaller, yellow patterned in dark brown, and on bright days when the atmosphere is right, it produces a strong perfume. Oncidium ornithorynchum, by contrast, produces short, branched sprays of numerous, densely clustered, rosy pink flowers with twisted and curled petals. This species is often grown solely for its beautiful fragrance. Oncidium incurvum has long, branched spikes of pale pink flowers with pink and white lips. Up to a hundred blooms are produced on a spray. Oncidium tigrinum, ornithorynchum and incurvum all come from Mexico where they are used to growing in a drier atmosphere than some of the jungle plants, making them more easily adaptable to culture indoors.
As already mentioned, the Odontoglossum species from South America are not to be recommended for indoors. However, the numerous hybrids from them are worth trying, particularly where they have been crossed with Miltonias to produce the genus Odontonia, or with Oncidiums to produce Odontocidium. The little known genus Cochlioda, which is seldom seen in cultivation today, produces bright red flowers and has been used extensively for breeding with Odontoglossums to produce the genus Odontioda. When an Odontioda is crossed with a Miltonia the result is a trigeneric cross. This was first achieved by a Belgian grower, Mr Vuylsteke, who gave this hybrid the new generic name of Vuylstekeara. Another example is Wilsonara which is the result of combining Odontoglossum, Cochlioda and Oncidium. These complex hybrids are extremely difficult to breed, but once they have been produced they are usually very easy to grow. Because of the different species represented in the one hybrid they are much stronger and more vigorous in cultivation and the flowers bear the best characteristics of shape and size from the different parents. One of the most famous hybrids available today is Vuylstekeara Cambria ‘Plush’ Fcc/RHS (First Class Certificate awarded by The Royal Horticultural Society, London). This outstanding plant, which was originally raised in the 1930s, has never been superseded and with modern methods of mass propagation is available for everyone to grow. It produces long sprays of deep, wine red flowers, with a large spreading white lip heavily peppered with red. Today this plant has become popular all over the world, and because of its complicated breeding it will adapt to growing in warm or cool conditions. Odontocidium Tiger Butter is a hybrid from Oncidium tigrinum in which the characteristics of that fine species have been enhanced to produce a rounded flower with a large yellow lip and broad glossy petals which far surpass the species flower. Wilsonara Widecombe Fair is, by contrast, a very open, star-shaped bloom which is a first generation hybrid from Oncidium incurvum. A large plant will produce a hundred flowers on a massive branched spike. These hybrids and many others are best grown in a cool room where the light is good but away from all direct sunshine. The same applies to the numerous and excellent Miltonia hybrids which are so readily available today, and are obtainable in reds, whites, yellows, plum colours as well as pinks and endless combinations of these shades.
The multigeneric hybrids are continuously growing plants. The only time they are not growing is when they are producing their flower spikes. Because the new growth follows immediately after the plant has finished flowering, these plants should be kept watered throughout the year. They can be allowed to dry out slightly during the winter months, but otherwise, the compost must be kept evenly moist to encourage a steady, continuous rate of growth. Among the species, those varieties which do not rest such as Odontoglossum bictoniense, should be watered as the hybrids, while those which cease their growth during part or all of the winter should be allowed to dry out, although not to such an extent that their bulbs shrivel. Should this occur, give one very thorough watering and keep the plant slightly wetter until the bulbs regain their plumpness.
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