Dividing Oncidium orchids

Steve and Val Bradley explain how to divide and repot Oncidium orchids

- Steve and Val Bradley

THANKS to the wonders of there are micropropagation, many species and varieties of orchids available to grow at home. One of the best, in terms of tolerance and the fact that the flowers are often fragrant, is Oncidium. Unlike moth orchids, with their big, showy flowers and wide, almost succulent leaves, the Oncidium tends to have narrow, grass-like foliage and sprays of small, delicate flowers that can smell of lemon, chocolate or vanilla.

Need for space

Like many other species of orchids, they flower best when pot-bound, but there comes a point where the sheer lack of room to grow, food, and space for water begins to take its toll on the overall health of the plant. At this point, you have the choice to move it into a bigger pot or divide the parent plant into smaller sections. This is possible because Oncidium are 'sympodial', meaning they grow on rhizomes and spread along the surface of the pot. For this reason, they grow best in a shallow, wide container, as they have no need for any great depth of compost.

Report after flowering