Repotted Orchids losing their blooms

[gebers]

Got two new orchids earlier about a week ago.
Normally wouldn't buy from Home Depot, but they were cheap and looked like they were in decent condition.

The media they were in (bark) was in bad shape, and roots were growing out of the pot. I repotted them into some moss.

At first they were doing fine, but now the blooms are all starting to die.
I waited a while before fertilizing, because I've heard repotting can cause some stress, I only fed them once @ 1/4 strength, could this have caused the blooms to start dying?
I've also heard repotting into a larger pot can focus growth into the roots, could that per chance be what is happening?

Are these phals? Thats what the label said, but am not sure.

Any advice would be much appreciated, everyone here seems to be a wealth of information.

All the best.
Matt

[zxyqu]

I dont believe it is a phal, but I'll let a better person tell you their opinion before you decide.
I would guess the repotting killed the blooms which isn't uncommon, that's why you'll hear people say wait until blooms are gone and you see some root growth to repot. That said sometimes, you have to sacrifice the blooms to save the plant, and if the media was in bad shape, it would be worth it. When you say you replanted in some moss, did you use only moss? If not, you really need to throw in some bark/perlite, or something else to allow some of the moisture out and some air in. Hopefully someone will chime in and let you know what species it is, so they can give you some better repotting/culture ideas

[Zoi2]

Welcome to the Orchid Board Matt.
Your plant is not a phal. I'm not sure but I think it's an oncidium of some variety. Someone else with more experience with these plants will chime in to help.
Be VERY careful with the moss as it will hold alot of water.
Joann

[Psyguy10]

Hello, Matt, welcome to the OB!

First off, i'm 99% sure thats a oncidium alliance orchid

Heres a care sheet reviewing their general culture:

AOS | Oncidium

The blooms dying is natural... you have no idea for how long it's been in bloom, and as you mentioned repotting can cause stress. Theres also environmental factors to take into account (Too hot/cold/dry/wet?)

Potting media: be VERY, VERY careful with sphagnum moss, for a beginner it's very difficult to use because you must know your culture & watering practices in detail. A generally good rule of thumb with moss is: if it doesn't begin to dry within 3 days... it's holding way to much water for most orchids.

Hope that helps!

[gebers]

ok, thank you so much guys.

It is definitely an oncidium, I figured that Home Depot had no idea what they were talking about.

Also, I have a 20-10-20 fertilizer that i bought for another phal. Is there going to be any adverse effects for using it with these two oncidiums?

Thanks again!

[Zoi2]

Your fertilizer should be ok.
Joann

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

This is my opinion on the potting medium you're using. While the others here have expressed to you to be careful with using moss on Oncidium intergenerics, I would advise against using it. The moss will stay too wet for their roots to grow properly. Small grade wood chips work just fine. My .

As for the blooms, I agree with Psyguy10, they were already on their way out. Oncidium intergenerics have fairly impressive sprays of flowers on each panicle. The ones in your pics don't have that many flowers, suggesting that they were falling off even before you bought them.

Oh, and your fertilizer works fine for any orchid, just as long as it's urea free. Urea is not a readily bioavailable source of nitrogen for most plants. It also requires soil microbes and a certain pH to initiate breakdown into a more bioavailable source of nitrogen for orchids (some orchids are epiphytes that grow on trees). Nitrate or ammonia based nitrogen sources are the better choices.