Onc. Tsiku Marguerite

If you are familiar with Oncidium Twinkle, you can think of Oncidium Tsiku Marguerite as the next generation. It’s essentially a supercharged version of its famous parent.

The parentage here is straightforward: it’s a cross between Oncidium Twinkle and one of Twinkle’s own parents, Oncidium sotoanum (which you might know by its older name, ornithorhynchum). When breeders do this, it’s called a back-cross. The goal is to intensify the best traits of the parent you're crossing back to. In this case, that means amplifying the color and fragrance from Oncidium sotoanum.

Like its parent, the entire genetic line of this orchid traces back to the cool, misty, high-elevation cloud forests of Mexico and Central America. This is the absolute key to its happiness. It’s not a lowland, hot-weather orchid; it loves the fresh, cool air we get up here in Kurtistown, especially when the  clouds roll in!

The plant is a perfect miniature, forming tight clumps of small, plump pseudobulbs with a few slender, bright green leaves. It looks nearly identical to an Onc. Twinkle. The real difference is in the bloom. It produces the same magnificent, branching cloud of hundreds of tiny flowers, but the color may be intensified. The plant is larger in stature with longer flower spikes, yet the fragrance is just as powerful as its parent's, a wonderful sweet and spicy scent that reminds many people of vanilla or cotton candy. 

Care Instructions

Light: Provide bright, indirect light. An east-facing window is ideal. It should be protected from the hot midday or afternoon sun. The leaves should be a bright, grassy green; a yellowish color may indicate too much light.

Water: This orchid has small pseudobulbs that cannot store a lot of water, so it prefers to be kept consistently moist. Water thoroughly as the top of the medium begins to dry. Do not allow it to sit in water, but do not let it dry out completely for long periods.

Temperature: This is a crucial point. It is an intermediate-to-cool growing orchid and is even less tolerant of heat than Onc. Twinkle. It thrives with daytime temperatures between 65-75°F and requires a nighttime drop to 55-65°F to flourish. It will struggle and decline in prolonged hot conditions.

Humidity: It prefers moderate to high humidity, around 50% to 70%. Good air circulation is very important to prevent fungal issues, especially given its preference for cooler, moist conditions.

Potting Medium: Due to its fine root system, it does best in a small pot with a fine-grade orchid mix that provides both moisture retention and good drainage. A mix of fine fir bark, perlite, and a bit of sphagnum moss works very well. Repot every one to two years before the medium breaks down.