Dancing Doll Orchid Gomesa flexuosa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Oncidium flexuosum
- Phonetic Spelling
- GOH-mes-uh fleks-yoo-OH-suh
- Description
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Dancing Ladies Orchid is an epiphytic tropical orchid native to Brazil and Argentina in the Orchidaceae family. It is found in coastal mountains and along inland creeks and marshes in the native habitat and tends to grow on trees but can also grow on the ground. It has yellow flowers with brown to dark purple blotches that appear from fall through winter. The leaves are leathery and green. Climbing roots grow from the stem and psuedobulbs are present to hold water during drought periods.
Grow this plant in an orchid mix that drains freely. It likes bright but indirect light, humidity of 50-80 % and moist soil. It may be best grown in a conservatory-type setting.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Root rot can occur with too moist conditions and poor draining soils
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gomesa
- Species:
- flexuosa
- Family:
- Orchidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Brazil, Argentina
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Epiphyte
- Houseplant
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers grow in clusters with many blooms on the branched stems. They have 3 petals surrounded by 3 sepals. Lower petals are larger and yellow with brownish purple at the throat and the small upper petals are blotched with purple-brown. They are 1-1.5 inches and showy. They bloom in fall and winter.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leathery green oblong leaves occur in pairs and are 4-12 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. They sheath the stem and 2 pseudobulbs are at the base
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Multi-branched stems are zig zaged
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
