Oncidium Growth

[Don Perusse]

Someone gave me 6 oncidiums all the same labeled "Sunshine" They badly need repotting so I did so using a general mix of bark, charcoal, perlite. All have 4-6 pseudo bulbs, some with leaves other without, tho green. There is new growth but appear to be growing so slowly. What can I do to speed up growth? They are outside in shade house, so circulations is good. Some morning sun but not afternoon. Do I water more? (usually once every 5 days or so) More fertilizer, more sun?......in other words any quick fix. I would like to give to members of a local orchid club but need to look more healthy and full before doing so. Thanks.

[thakshila smith]

I think they require more shade. Do you treat them with cool water or some heatey water.

[Lorraine]

Hi Don,
My Onc. get couple hours of morning sun although its filtered through sunscreen patio. Lots of light through the day. They seem to like being watered when not quite dry. My mix is in a wooded basket (8") lined with screen pieces to keep the mix from falling out. I am using mix of spag. moss and hydroton & treefirn & small charcoal pieces. Add about 1/2 tablespoon of dynamite fertilizer. They get a liq. fertilizer 2x month. They dry out here faster in S. Florida and the sun will burn the leaves easily. You might be lucky by just changing the medium. Mine didn't care for the bark since the roots are finer than some others like cats & phals.
Lorraine

[Don Perusse]

Hey Lorraine.....I have tree fern, charcoal, spag but what is hydroton????????

[Lorraine]

Hi Don,
Go to the Green Barn's website...http://shop.greenbarnorchid.com/
and click on potting mixes. You can see what it looks like. A type of clay pellet. I use mostly moss and make sure the tree firn pieces are not too big. Just break them up. For my cats I only use the Rock Fusion Plus Mix with additional tree firn mixed in. Bottom of pot has packing peanuts (not the dissolveable ones, the original harder ones)about 1/4 - 1/3 filled.
Good Luck.
Lorraine