Oncidium Twinkle 'Fragrance Fantasy' White

Here’s a delightful classic, Oncidium Twinkle. While many in the Oncidium family are called "Dancing Lady Orchids," it's especially fitting for this one. When it blooms, it creates a  cloud-like spray of dozens of tiny flowers that seem to dance in the slightest breeze.

This is a primary hybrid, a direct cross between two charming species: Oncidium cheirophorum and Oncidium ornithorhynchum. Now, for those of us keeping score, ornithorhynchum has been reclassified and is now correctly known as Oncidium sotoanum. Both of these parent species come from the cool, moist, high-elevation cloud forests of Mexico and Central America. This ancestry is the key to understanding what makes this little orchid happy. It doesn't want to bake in the hot sun. Here in Kurtistown, with our cooler mauka air, it's right at home.

The plant itself is a tidy miniature, forming tight clumps of small, plump, roundish pseudobulbs, each topped with a couple of thin, bright green leaves. It’s a plant that stays small and manageable.

But the bloom is the real spectacle. It produces tall, branching spikes that erupt into a cloud of dozens of tiny, delicate flowers. They come in several color forms, from the creamy white 'Fragrance Fantasy' to yellow or even reddish varieties. The best part? The fragrance is absolutely incredible. It’s strong, sweet, and spicy—many people say it smells like vanilla or creme brulee. A single plant in bloom can fill a room with its perfume.

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: Oncidium Twinkle 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 an intermediate-to-cool growing orchid. It thrives with daytime temperatures between 65-75°F and enjoys a nighttime drop to 55-65°F. It will tolerate slightly warmer daytime temperatures but struggles in prolonged heat. It is not a hot-growing lowland orchid.

Grown in a 3" pot.