Oncidium Gower Ramsey (Yellow)

The name hints at its most striking feature, but 'Yellow' almost feels like an understatement for the sheer sunshine captured in the flowers of Oncidium Gower Ramsey 'Yellow'. This orchid is celebrated for its spectacular, cascading sprays of brilliant yellow blooms. Often called a "dancing lady" orchid, each flower, with its full, ruffled skirt-like lip, seems to jitterbug at the slightest breeze. The center of each 1.5-in. bloom is typically marked with a delicate touch of reddish-brown, adding a bit of spice to its otherwise sunny disposition. The flower spikes are true showstoppers, branching and arching to lengths of 30-38 in., creating a waterfall of vibrant color.

This plant is a handsome one even when not in bloom. It produces plump, ovoid pseudobulbs, which are essentially water-storage tanks for the plant. From the top of each pseudobulb, one or two long, strap-like leaves emerge, growing up to 2 ft. in length. The foliage is a bright, healthy green, forming a robust clump over time.

The lineage of Onc. Gower Ramsey is a fascinating journey across the Americas. It is a hybrid, a cross between Oncidium Goldiana and Oncidium Guinea Gold. This ancestry weaves together orchids from vastly different environments.

Its first parent, Oncidium Goldiana, is a child of the warm, humid lowlands, born from Gomesa flexuosa (native to Brazil and Argentina) and Oncidium sphacelatum (found from Mexico through Central America into South America).

The other parent, Oncidium Guinea Gold, brings a cooler, high-elevation influence from the Andean cloud forests. Its family tree is a "who's who" of magnificent species from Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, including Oncidium alexandrae, Oncidium noezlianum, Oncidium harryanum, and Oncidium hallii, many of which thrive at chilly altitudes between 5,000 and 10,000 ft.

This blend of warm-growing and cool-tolerant ancestors is the secret to the Gower Ramsey's vigor and adaptability, allowing it to put on its stunning floral performance, typically in the spring and fall.

Care Instructions

Light: Provide bright, indirect light, similar to what you would find under a sheer curtain in an east-facing window. Avoid direct, intense sunlight, which can burn the leaves.

Water: Water generously, allowing the potting medium to become almost dry before watering again. Do not let the plant stand in water. Good drainage is critical.

Temperature: Prefers intermediate to warm conditions. Aim for daytime temperatures between 70-85°F and a slight drop at night to 55-65°F to encourage blooming.

Humidity: A relative humidity of 50-70% is ideal. In drier environments, placing the pot on a tray of wet pebbles can help increase local humidity.

Potting Medium: Use a coarse, well-aerated orchid mix. A blend of fir bark, charcoal, and perlite works well to provide the drainage and air circulation that the roots need. Repotting is generally needed every one to two years.

Grown in 4" pots, currently in tight spike stage~best for shipping as the spikes get really long when fully developed.