The Forbes' Oncidium is native to the Brazil. This species occurs in the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Although usually found in older forests, this species quickly colonizes the areas after cutting out or burning out old forests. These plants grow exceptionally well on rooted trees, but are also found growing in the ground, in young, reclaimed forests.
Oncidium forbesii orchid, also called as Forbes' Oncidium, is a species of the genus Oncidium. This species was first described by Hook in 1839. Several synonyms are now for this species such as: "Anettea forbesii (Hook.) Szlach. & Mytnik 2006"; "Brasilidium forbesii (Hook.) Campacci 2006"; "Gomesa forbesii (Hook.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams 2009"; "Oncidium crispum var. forbesii Burb. 1882"; "Oncidium cripum var marginatum Hort."; "Oncidium forbesii Hkr var atratum Linden 1902"; "Oncidium forbesii Hkr var borwickianum Rchb.f 1879"; "Oncidium forbesii Hkr var bradshawae Hort. 1902"; "Oncidium forbesii Hkr var castanea Lindl. 1899"; "Oncidium forbesii Hkr var marginatum Hort. 1886"; "Oncidium forbesii Hkr var maximum Linden & Rodig 1888"; "Oncidium forbesii Hkr var measursianuim Krzl. 1891"; "Oncidium forbesii Hkr var moortebeekiense Linden 1899"; "Oncidium forbesii Hkr var nigricans Linden 1899"; "Oncidium forbesii Hkr var splendens Hort. 1888".
IDENTIFY ONCIDIUM FORBESII ORCHID
The Forbes' Oncidium is native to the Brazil. This species occurs in the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Fowlie (1976) states that this species was first encountered in the Organ Mountains, but it is now known that its occurrence stretches from Serra da Extrema in the west Serra da Mantiqueirae to Organ Mountains in the east, and even to Espírito Santo. This species also occurs in Serra do Mar starting from Serra da Bocaina in the state of Rio de Janeiro and south to the state of Santa Catarina. Fowlie (1976) reports that he always found these plants in foggy forests on the leeward sides, at heights of 910-1220 m, and that these plants do not like dry areas. Miller and Warren (1994) report that in the Macaé de Cima forest reserve in the eastern part of the state of Rio de Janeiro, these plants are rapidly growing beyond the higher level of the primary forest, from 800 m up to 1600 m. Although usually found in older forests, this species quickly colonizes the areas after cutting out or burning out old forests. These plants grow exceptionally well on rooted trees, but are also found growing in the ground, in young, reclaimed forests. In the area of the Macaé habitat, temperatures, humidity and air movement are very variable.
The plant is a small to medium sized, epiphytic species that reaching 20-38 cm in height. These plants have very variable sizes. Thick, white roots spread a long distance from the plant, sometimes even 100 cm or more. It grows warm to cool and has oblong or elliptic-ovoid, compressed pseudobulbs carrying a single, or rarely 2 apical, lanceolate or oblong-ligulate, coriaceous, acute to mucronate leaves. Pseudobulbs are 5-8 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. The leaves are 15-30 cm long. A leaf usually grows from the apex of a pseudobulb, but sometimes it also happens that a second leaf also grows. The leathery leaves are about 4 cm wide and narrow to form a sharp top.
Oncidium forbesii orchid blooms in the fall on an erect or nodding, to 40"' (100 cm) long, simple or paniculate inflorescence with membranous, triangular, acute bracts. Usually 6-14 flowers grow on each inflorescence, but on exceptionally large specimens they can be up to 30. Flowers are 5.0-6.4 cm in diameter. They are reddish-brown to nut-brown, and each segment of the flower has a narrow, yellow objection that may or may not have red-brown spots. The dorsal petal has the shape of a claw, it is oval to elliptical, slightly deep, it is 2.0-2.3 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. Longer but narrower side flakes are connected to each other at the base for about one third of their length and are generally hidden behind a large, wide-spread lip. The inner whorl flakes are strongly curled and have rounded, separated tops. The 3-segment lip is 3-4 cm long. It has tiny, similar to the ears, yellow side plots and a large, split, skirt-like central plot, which has a very wavy edge. A wide isthmus with inverted banks separates the side plots at the base of the lip from the middle plot. Covered with warts, red and yellow thickening has 5 plots. The short rod has fairly short, fleshy, purplish-purple wings with red spots.
GROW AND CARE ONCIDIUM FORBESII ORCHID
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
It needs medium-high light, around 18000-25000 lux. The photoperiod must be at least 11 hours. Strong air movement is recommended at all times. As night time temperatures reach above 15 ° C, it is best to keep this orchid outdoors, placing it in a bright position but protected from direct sunlight. Keep in mind that the orchid should not be exposed to strong winds and rains, as it may damage the plant. It gets back in during the autumn, when nighttime temperatures drop to 12 ° C.
Temperature:
The Oncidium forbesii is an intermediate greenhouse species; so the temperatures should be 20-22 ° C during the day and 15-16 ° C at night. It also adapts to slightly higher temperatures, but we must always remember to move it outdoors in the summer.
Humidity:
The Oncidium forbesii is absolutely not demanding in this aspect: the normal 50-55% are enough, if the plant is kept in pot. The discourse changes, however, if it is grown bare-root: in this case it is necessary to maintain 70-75%.
Substrate and growing medium:
Given the size of the plant, it is more practical to place it in a vase (I always recommend transparent vases, to facilitate the control of the substrate and roots), using the medium-sized bark as a substrate. Any very loose and airy substrate, or cultivation on rootstocks, as long as high humidity is ensured. It is also possible to mount the Oncidium forbesii on a raft, always putting a layer of sphagnum under its roots.
Watering:
From late spring to autumn, precipitation is moderate to heavy. Then the monthly average rainfall slowly drops by going into a slightly drier period, which lasts 3-4 months until the beginning of spring. Cultivated plants should often be watered during active growth, but their roots must dry fast after watering. When new growths reach maturity in autumn, the amount of water should be gradually reduced.
Fertilizer and flowering:
It is fertilized every 4 waterings, taking an appropriate liquid fertilizer for the orchids and using 1/3 of the dose indicated on the bottle. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growths appear in the spring and more abundant watering starts.
This orchid does not present any problem with the blooms, especially if it is kept outdoors during the summer - early autumn: it is the daily changes in temperature between day and night that stimulate the development of the floral stems. Given that in the autumn the changes become noticeable (of 6-8 ° C), the Oncidium forbesii prefers exactly this period to flourish.
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