Odontoglossums can suffer easily from heat stress, and if you cannot keep the plants cool enough in summer, try putting them out of doors in a wellshaded place where they can be kept moist and humid. If placed in too much light, the leaves will turn a reddish hue.
The comparatively few species grown today are confined to specialist collections, while in their place have come hundreds of hybrids that, for the hobby grower, constitute a much better buy. The hybrids have a spectrum of colours and a vigorous habit that are not found in the species, and are much more suited to mass-production for the hobbiest.
Typically, odontoglossums and related genera produce green pseudobulbs with an apical pair of mid-green, narrowly oval leaves, and two shorter leaves at the base. The plants may be 30-45cm (12-18in) high, and the flower spikes can be twice this. The flowers of the pure Odontoglossum hybrids are well rounded, with sepals and petals of equal size, and a neat, often frillyedged lip.
All the intergeneric odontoglossums are extremely lovely plants to grow, but care must be taken to ensure that the pseudobulbs stay plump throughout the year. On occasion, a mature plant will produce a tall, well-flowered spike that is more than it can support. As the buds develop to opening stage, the plant will suddenly shrivel badly, which is an indication that the flowers are sapping its strength and it cannot support them and live. Remove the flower spike immediately.
You can still enjoy the flowers by placing them in water. Repot the plant if necessary and encourage it to produce a new growth as quickly as possible, after which a slow recovery can begin. Odontoglossums originally extended from the Andes in South America north to Mexico. Recent reclassification has created new genera, until the only true Odontoglossum species left occur in the Andes.
Horticulturally, many of the older generic names are retained, hence both names, which remain in common usage, are given here. The exception is the genus Rossioglossum, where the species are so distinct that they are listed separately under Specialist Orchids. Temperature for ordontoglossum orchid is cool-growing; keep below 24C (75F) in summer. Grow in fine bark in 5-7cm (2-3in) pots that restrict the roots. Keep well shaded in summer, but give more light in winter. Water and apply feed all year, but give less in winter. Height: 30-45cm (12-18in).
Viewed 155 times by 63 viewers
