Beallara Marfitch 'Howard's Dream'- sudden pseudobulb wrinkling during bloom

[Skippersmom]

I have been doing orchids and other plants for years. Posting in Beginner discussion as this type of orchid is new to me.

Live in Nebraska. Orchid is an 'insider' but only in my possession since July 1.

This Beallara Marfitch 'Howard's Dream' came from an orchid vendor. It was in full spike – no buds open. The pseudobulbs were full smooth and shiny. The buds did not progress for about a month, figured that was shipping shock. Was running water through & out about once a week. Then a couple began to progress to open and it seemed that when I would water, a few more would perk up, etc. I have no been watering more than once week. No soaking. Nothing else added. I palpate down about an inch to figure out when to water.
It finally opened up fully around Aug. 10th. When the buds opened up, it was like ‘boom’ – nearly all at once over about 2 days. It had been in indirect light in a south exposure kitchen window.
I left town for a few days, got back Monday and the pseudobulbs are shriveled. I ran water through right before I left.
It is in a 4”x4” black plastic typical greenhouse pot. Cannot see the roots of course. With the ginormous size of the pseudobulbs and the very long loaded spike, I have been reticent to pop it out of the pot to see if it’s too wet, rotting roots, etc. Don’t want to snap the spike.
My ? is, would a mass bloom like this cause enough water demand to draw hard on the pseudobulbs in spite of what I considered reasonable watering. Is this typical? OR Would I have to be concerned that I really have rotting roots?

Thank you in advance for your experienced and wise analysis.

[Roberta]

It's possible that it got a bit dry, pot is small relative to the huge p-bulbs and these Oncidinae definitely don't like to dry out. if it is tight in the pot, probably better to wait until the flowers are done. Perhaps you can feel around in the pot to determine dampness. But if it's easy to slip out out the pot, you could probably get away with it, just to see what you're dealing with.

[estación seca]

Flowers are extravagant water evaporaters. Oncidium flowers have no waxy cuticle to conserve water. In a lower humidity environment Oncidiums in flower need even more water than plants out of flower.

[DirtyCoconuts]

I will just say this. intergeneric oncidium hybrids just self destruct sometimes...the blra and ones that are brassia heavy especially.


I have great luck with a lot of the oncidium tribe but these can just do as yours is and start to dry out-


NOTE- it s not lost..you can likely rehydrate it and hopefully it will vigorously replace that bulb soon but i have had mixed luck in these plants

[Skippersmom]

So I rustled up the courage and teased the orchid from it's pot. I found the roots as in the picture. It's in sphag but the moss does not appear tightly packed. Copious roots. ALl of the ones I can see look very happy and healthy. Around these roots is some airspace. I did not dig deeply to check deeper roots. To my eye, I have less concern about about root rot [knowing there might be some if I dug deep into the roots]. I will probably focus on hydration.

Thank you all for your input on this. Each piece very valuable.

I will especially keep in mind this type of orchids predilection for self destruction.

[estación seca]

I haven't looked its ancestry up recently but I think this one, like a lot of Beallaras, doesn't like heat. South Florida might be too hot for it outside.

[WaterWitchin]

What ES says ^^ When I moved my orchids to a different grow space, it's now quite a bit warmer in the summer. Everything Beallara took a real hit and I lost several before figuring it out.

[Skippersmom]

The initial post -> I live in Nebraska - however, the orchid is living indoors (in quarantine) since it arrived July1.

Temperatures here have been close to that of the 'Gates of H311', so no plants have been moved outdoors since about July 1st really. [it's plenty hot here, cannot imagine what you are going through in FL or AZ!]

My hunch was, that this was the result of the mass of blooms that all opened quickly. I've just never had an orchid be so 'drama' about it.

Thank you so much.