How to grow Colmanara (Oncostele ) Wildcat 'Black Cat': How to ID a no ID orchid: A quick un-boxing!

How to grow the wonderful, and easy, Colmanara (Oncostele ) Wildcat 'Black Cat' orchid! Yes Plant Lovers, this was ANOTHER Covid rescue orchid and a no ID so I had to wait until it bloomed to figure out what it was! So this is both a care video and also a how I went about trying to ID this no ID orchid video! AND....as I was setting up a 'small' box arrived I'd completely forgotten about so we end with a cheeky un-boxing!
0:00 introduction
1:18 Colmanara (Oncostele ) Wildcat 'Black Cat'
2:52 Colmanara orchid type origin and name change
3:52 light requirements
4:05 temperature requirements
5:08 watering requirements
6:09 fertilising requirments
7:37 ideal potting medium
8:43 how to go about identifying a no ID orchid
11:56 flowers & fragrance
13:55 unboxing

[@matthewcondon1985]

Love that ‘Black Cat’! Don’t even try to justify your purchase...you just enjoy those new plants! Such a fun video.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you!

[@woowooone]

I asked Nina from Ninja Orchid which her favorite of her 300 orchids were. She said, without a doubt, it was her Colmanara Masai Red. I went on the hunt and couldn't find it for sale anywhere that delivers to the US. I searched 3 times a week for 3 months. And finally.... I got 3!

[@helloplantlovers]

Well there you are! I hope they are all thriving!!

[@breafisher3706]

Surprise orchids, such fun!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! Who doesn't love a surprise!

[@wandashaw3551]

Beautiful colored blooms!! I loved the surprise, I forgot what I ordered unboxing!! So fun.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@christinenorton2510]

Hi Mathew, really enjoyed that. Cute new plants I'm sure they will do just fine. Wildcat is beautiful. I have to grin each time you say your a terricota kind of a guy so bung them new plants in and watch them take off. Stay safe and stop blaming covid. Ha ha

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! #teamterracotta!

[@napaw4239]

Colmanara is such a cool name for a cool flower! I've been able to restrain myself from the orchid therapy during this crazy time in Sydney. 😉 Stay safe over there.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you - I haven't been able to restrain myself....!

[@kevins9242]

Hi Matthew, I had so much fun learning about colmanara and seeing the surprise orchids. :) It will be fun tomorrow to research each of the 4 surprise orchids to see what the mature plants will look like. You can do it!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - we'll see!

[@andreianifourcault2245]

What a colour!!! I love this type of plants but if I moove back to Nicosia the climate is not the one they like.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - they do like cooler night temps - I spent my childhood in Cyprus incidentally!

[@andreianifourcault2245]

@@helloplantlovers Really !! That is a surprise the world is small I think. Anyway thank you for your videos they helped a lot although the climate is not the same.

[@andiiryan]

I blame covid too!!!!! 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

[@helloplantlovers]

Just not sure how long we can go on using that excuse!

[@masondanshortyfaddoul2596]

Cool vid mat

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@sannekemartha7737]

What exactly do you mean by micro......fungi? I could not understand it. Thanks in advance !! Kind Regards.

[@helloplantlovers]

Mycorrhizal fungi - easiest for you to read this article from the RHS that explains it well: www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/mycorrhizal-fungi

[@waynesund854]

Not much comment about the type of potting medium/mix?

[@helloplantlovers]

Pretty standard Oncidium mix: loose bark mixed with + a little charcoal + a little perlite + a little chopped sphagnum moss and a pinch of shell grit for calcium.

[@waynesund854]

@@helloplantlovers still learning about growing orchids and looking for any help I can get. Thanks for your reply.

[@helloplantlovers]

@@waynesund854 No problem - good luck with your orchids!