Oncidium Twinkle: Beginner-Friendly Hybrid Orchid

Oncidium twinkle orchid is loved for its small, clustered flowers that have a lovely fragrance. If you are short on space, you must try growing this miniature orchid. This space saver will reward you with stunning, fragrant blooms.

If you are a beginner and clueless about orchids, follow our cultivation guide to know all about this fragrant mini orchid.

What Is Oncidium Twinkle?

Oncidium twinkle is a hybrid orchid that is a cross between Oncidium cheirophorum and Oncidium ornithorhynchum. It is an epiphytic orchid that grows attached to the trees and, sometimes, rocks.

It comes in different varieties such as Oncidium twinkle White fantasy with white flowers, Fragrance Fantasy with pale yellow blooms, and many more. William Whitmore Goodale Moir created this beautiful hybrid variety in 1958.

• Size and Growth

Oncidium twinkle is a compact, small-sized orchid. It is easy to maintain as it is resistant to most plant diseases. It produces impressive two to three branching flower spikes that send out multiple fragrant flowers.

Unlike Oncidium Sharry baby, it has tiny pseudobulbs. The stems are about 10 inches long.

• Foliage

Oncidium twinkle has thick, dark-green leaves.

• Flowers

Oncidium twinkle produces flowers in clusters and fills the entire area with fragrance when in bloom. It blooms throughout the year, and its blooms can last for three to four weeks. Some blooms may last for months.

The small blooms are about half an inch wide. It comes in a range of colors, from red to white. Most often, they are white and yellow. The miniature flowers have a sweet vanilla-like fragrance.

Oncidium Twinkle Culture and Care: Its Growth Requirements

Oncidium twinkle is an easy-to-grow orchid if you take care of its basic growth requirements. You need to follow some simple care tips to keep it blooming. Read from our detailed guide to know exactly about the requirements.

• Light Requirements

Oncidium twinkle prefers bright, diffused light throughout the day to grow well. They grow quite well indoors. East and west-facing windows are great spots to keep your Oncidium twinkle. It does not like very dark places.

If you do not provide it with enough light, it will not bloom. If you keep it in direct sunlight, its leaves will burn. So provide well-balanced, bright light. Avoid keeping it in full sun or deep shade.

Oncidium twinkle is prone to leaf spots. It could be due to harsh sunlight. If your orchid is outdoors, it may be receiving too much sunlight. This causes the leaves to turn dark and black, and gradually, the plant dies.

If the leaves start to turn yellow, it may be because your orchid is receiving too much sunlight and dark-green shade indicates that it is not receiving enough light.

• Water Requirements

Watering the Oncidium twinkle depends on the existing temperature in your area. The higher the temperature, the higher will be the watering frequency and vice versa. Water Oncidium twinkle such that water comes out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

Damp and soggy soil conditions may cause root rot or other fungal diseases in your orchid. If you underwater your orchid, its roots will not be able to suck up water and transport it to other parts, and slowly, the pseudobulbs and the leaves will start to wither, leading to the plant’s death.

Oncidium twinkle slows down and goes into a rest period in winter. So water less during the winter months. Let the soil medium dry out for one or two days after watering and then water again.

Follow this process for the entire winter season. Resume regular watering as spring approaches. Mounted orchids need a daily dose of water in summer. They dry out fast, and it is important to spray them regularly.

Oncidium twinkle is a thirsty plant when it is actively growing. It means that if you see new leaves and shoots, it means the plant needs more water.

You can set up a self-watering setup if regular watering is an issue. Set a plant reservoir below and let the plant wick up the water. Fill the reservoir with water twice a week in summer and once in two weeks in winter.

• Temperature

Oncidium twinkle needs an average daytime temperature of 68 to 74 Fahrenheit and an average nighttime temperature of about 65 Fahrenheit.

During the winter months, a daytime temperature of 65 Fahrenheit and a nighttime temperature of 57 to 59 Fahrenheit work fine. Overall, temperatures ranging between 55 and 85 Fahrenheit seem to work well for this orchid.

Try to keep some difference in day and nighttime temperatures. It helps in better flowering. Protect your orchid from the heat in summer and frost in winter. Please note that Oncidium twinkle does not like frequent disturbances in temperature. A quick temperature change can slow down its growth.

• Soil Mix

Oncidium twinkle needs a loose and airy soil mix. Mix pieces of pine bark with some peat moss and sphagnum moss to make the ideal soil medium to grow your orchid.

If you are growing it on a block or mounted on a cork slab, try to keep the orchid roots moist and prevent them from drying out. Some people grow their orchids in leca. The soil pH should be between 6 and 7.

If you are growing an Oncidium twinkle in a pot, make sure that it has vertical side drainage holes. A pot with enough drainage holes will ensure good air movement and avoid root rot.

Use clay pots if you want to avoid soggy soil conditions, and use plastic pots if you want to be able to see the orchid roots.

 

• Humidity

Oncidium twinkle is not too difficult when it comes to humidity. It comes from tropical climates, so it enjoys humidity. It needs a 40 to 60 percent humidity level to bloom successfully.

Too little humidity will make the air dry and will lead to slowed growth of your orchid. Too high humidity with no air movement will lead to root rot and plant decay.

With higher temperatures, especially in summer, keep the humidity levels high by keeping humidifiers or humidity trays. There should be excellent ventilation with high humidity.

In the winter and rainy season, it will manage with low humidity. Use humidity trays or humidifiers if you are growing your orchid indoors. You could also mist it regularly to keep moisture and humidity high.

 

• Fertilizer Requirements

Fertilize Oncidium twinkle every third watering with a regular, balanced liquid orchid fertilizer. When new growth appears, use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, and when the pseudobulbs are about to form, use a phosphorus-rich fertilizer.

To fertilize your orchid, pour the fertilizer in a bucket full of water and let the orchid sit in the mixture for 20 to 30 minutes. To prevent the orchid’s roots from burning, use 50 percent plain water, and 50 percent distilled water.

If the water pH level is high, use fertilizers to bring it down so that it does not affect your orchid. Flush your orchid with Epsom salt twice a year to eliminate any salt buildup due to fertilization. Flush the soil media once a month with regular water to avoid salt buildup.

Repotting Oncidium Twinkle

Oncidium twinkle is a miniature plant and does not need frequent repotting. However, you can change its soil medium if it begins to decompose or decay. This orchid likes to be root-bound, and if you see some roots coming out of the pot, it is because they are trying to reach out for air.

While repotting, make sure not to break the roots while removing the old sphagnum moss or bark chips. If the plant is big enough, you can propagate it by dividing the roots.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Oncidium Twinkle an epiphyte or terrestrial orchid?

2. What are some signs of a sick Oncidium Twinkle?

3. How do I keep my Oncidium Twinkle orchid from getting too dry?

Conclusion

Oncidium twinkle is a desirable orchid for its perfect characteristics of pretty, fragrant flowers and low maintenance.

 

• Oncidium twinkle is a hybrid, epiphytic orchid that is popular for its dense flowers.
• It produces spectacular flowers that bloom in clusters, usually in the spring and summer months.
• It prefers partial to full shade, receiving bright, indirect light throughout the day.
• Water it abundantly during the active growth period and reduce it during winter.
• Allow the roots to dry out a bit in between waterings to avoid root rot and fungal infections.
• Avoid overwatering as soggy conditions lead to root rot and fungal diseases.
• Use a mix of bark chips, peat moss, and perlite as soil medium to grow the orchid in pots.
• Keep the humidity level between 40 and 60 percent for optimal growth.
• Fertilize regularly with a balanced, liquid orchid fertilizer every third watering.
• Repotting is not too important for this orchid as it is small and hardly overgrows the pot.
• But when the soil mix starts to decompose, repot your orchid in early spring.
• It can be propagated by the root division method.

 

We hope our information has helped you know all about the Oncidium twinkle, and you add one of these easy-going and rewarding orchids to your orchid collection soon.