Oncidium Tiny Twinkle is a beloved mini hybrid known for its incredibly large number of small and fragrant flowers.

The flowers of this variety are whitish and despite the plant's compact size, the flowering can be very abundant.

This is one of the easiest orchids to care for as it behaves more like a houseplant than an orchid. It is relatively small and compact.

The plant often blooms several times a year and is one of the most reliable Oncidium hybrids. It can bloom at any time of the year, up to twice a year, as long as conditions are good. The flowers are more fragrant with more light and are only fragrant during the day.

Botanical description

Oncidium Twinkle is a registered hybrid from 1958 and is a primary cross between Oncidium cheirophorum (seed parent) × Oncidium sotoanum (pollen parent).

Oncidium cheirophorum is a dwarf species from Mexico to Colombia at medium altitudes in cool cloud forests where it flowers in autumn/winter. It has greenish-yellow fragrant flowers that smell a bit like lemon cleaning products. It is used as a mother to pass on its size to its offspring.

Oncidium sotoanum is a medium-sized species from Mexico to Panama at low altitudes in hot and humid wet forests where it flowers in autumn and winter. It has bright pink fragrant long-lasting flowers that have a range of scents depending on the country of origin and lineage, and can range from vanilla, grape, baby powder, spicy, cinnamon, cocoa and/or candy scented. It is used as a parent to enhance the scent, color and longevity of the flowers. This species is accustomed to constantly humid conditions and responds very well to heat.

Combined together, the best of both parents was selected in the cross: long-lasting, pleasantly sweet-scented flowers on small to dwarf plants that just keep producing new shoots and flower heads. It seems that in this cross the cool requirement of cheirophorum is balanced by the warm requirement of sotoanum.

Since this is a primary hybrid, there is quite a bit of variability. Flower colors can range from a creamy white through yellow to a brick pink.

Care

We recommend a bright location with gentle morning or evening sun. Bright ambient light with a few hours of direct sunlight up to half a day of direct sunlight. These will produce more flowers and shoots with more light.

Use well-drained orchid compost . Plant in either pure sphagnum or 75% sphagnum and 25% orchid bark in a clear plastic pot.

Maintain even moisture during growth but allow the substrate to dry out slightly between waterings. Water when the medium is close to dry. Feel the medium to determine when it is time to water again.

It appreciates good air circulation and regular feeding. Grows slightly faster with more humidity, but as long as it is well watered it can withstand low humidity.

Keep temperatures between 18-30°C. It is best not to let it drop below 15°C.

Oncidium Tiny Twinkle is easy to grow, space-saving and rewards with recurring abundance of flowers. Buy Oncidium Tiny Twinkle online!