Oncidium bulb starting to wrinkle after producing a new shoot. Is this normal?

[Cymbaline]

Hi there, I am hoping I don't have a cause for concern but I could use some assurance.


This plant was inherited in 2017 and from 2018 - today it seemed to be doing much better under my care but recently I noticed one of it's nice fat bulbs is wrinkling. I want to know if this is perhaps normal? It's growing a shoot right off of it and that seems to be a possibility.

I did changed it's living conditions a bit as well in the last two weeks as well so hence why I question this.

I had this plant and another orchid over my sink since May of this year and under a grow light. It was growing really well and this particular bulb filled out nice and fat. End of Aug , I decided I would like to have my sink back so I made a home for it in a spare bedroom that receives Eastern sun. It's getting more sun and still the grow light.

The humidity levels are still good . I have a humidity gauge and humidity ranges from 47 - 52 which is the same as where it was when it was over the sink. I have a humidifier in the room and humidity trays.

I'm also still soaking it once a week like I was previously. I test that the soil is dry before I water by using a bamboo skewer.

I think the biggest change for it is I have a ceiling fan and a standing fan to help with air circulation. The temperature of the room is a bit of a change as well but I had spent a month prior adapting it to that by bringing it to that room every evening.

So is this normal or do I need to start watering it twice a week? I don't want to risk root rot .

[Ray]

The medium looks pretty good from the top, so unless it is decomposed deep down and is damaging the root system, my only speculation is that it's simply not getting enough water. Yes, the extra air movement can definitely dry things faster.

Don't water on a schedule; water when the plant needs it.

[Cymbaline]

Originally Posted by Ray

The medium looks pretty good from the top, so unless it is decomposed deep down and is damaging the root system, my only speculation is that it's simply not getting enough water. Yes, the extra air movement can definitely dry things faster.

Don't water on a schedule; water when the plant needs it.

Yea I water it via. the bamboo skewer test but I guess I should check daily. Thanks

[richardb]

First of all, many Oncidiinae do shrivel their bulbs as they age. The new growth looks strong but I do notice that the plant is planted directly into an internally glazed stone pot which could be preventing the roots drying out. Nothing wrong with stone pots, but glazing does hinder air/moisture flow. I would be inclined to unpot the plant and look at the roots - strong white is good, soggy brown is bad. repotting often revitalises plants anyway.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by richardb

First of all, many Oncidiinae do shrivel their bulbs as they age. The new growth looks strong but I do notice that the plant is planted directly into an internally glazed stone pot which could be preventing the roots drying out. Nothing wrong with stone pots, but glazing does hinder air/moisture flow. I would be inclined to unpot the plant and look at the roots - strong white is good, soggy brown is bad. repotting often revitalises plants anyway.

Good catch! I hadn't noticed that.

[Cymbaline]

Originally Posted by richardb

First of all, many Oncidiinae do shrivel their bulbs as they age. The new growth looks strong but I do notice that the plant is planted directly into an internally glazed stone pot which could be preventing the roots drying out. Nothing wrong with stone pots, but glazing does hinder air/moisture flow. I would be inclined to unpot the plant and look at the roots - strong white is good, soggy brown is bad. repotting often revitalises plants anyway.

Thanks . It's not glazed, it's spray painted terra cotta which may do about the same thing but the inside isn't spray painted.

[Shadowmagic]

the biggest change has been the plant getting exposed to a fan.
You can either water more and keep things as they are or reduce airflow and water less. Some will recommend option 1, I personally would avoid drying the medium more than before.

Additional airflow is only needed if conditions get too stagnant. Too much airflow can create more problems than you are trying to solve, ie medium drying out too fast - requiring more watering and more soggy conditions than no fan and a monitored watering schedule.

Edit: unfortuantely I don't think there is a fast fix for a dehydrated bulb. It takes months to rehydrate again from my experience unless someone has a good tip to make it hydrate faster but don't just water once a week, water when the medium has become dry

[Cymbaline]

Originally Posted by Shadowmagic

the biggest change has been the plant getting exposed to a fan.
You can either water more and keep things as they are or reduce airflow and water less. Some will recommend option 1, I personally would avoid drying the medium more than before.

Additional airflow is only needed if conditions get too stagnant. Too much airflow can create more problems than you are trying to solve, ie medium drying out too fast - requiring more watering and more soggy conditions than no fan and a monitored watering schedule.

Edit: unfortuantely I don't think there is a fast fix for a dehydrated bulb. It takes months to rehydrate again from my experience unless someone has a good tip to make it hydrate faster but don't just water once a week, water when the medium has become dry

Thanks for the details! I'll turn off the fan and just be patient. Thank You!

[claypot]

As my forum name suggests I am a great fan of clay pots so I believe you should not have any problem with yours so long as the surface remains open and porous. The only thing you need to be careful about indoors is the surface where the pot stands so dampness does not bring damage. I use clay pots extensively in my greenhouse but have found that they work best only when the plant needs more than 4 inch size. Not sure why, but smaller plants don't thrive. Drainage must, of course, be paramount.