oncidium flexuosum care

[mayoo-k]

Hi All!

Not been on the site for a while but have been busy being some orchids (mainly phals) but I have recently purchased my oncidium flexuosum and was just wondering if anyone had any adivce and tips for its growth! Mine looks young and has sent about 5 shoots but they appear to be white/greyish in colour so am I to assume these are its roots?? i'm used to phal orchids and this species looks so different that i am VERY confussed! lol. In the UK, cold farm house, with shaded light and the oncidium flexuosum is on a window sill.

Any help would be great.

regards
Mayoo

[RosieC]

Hi Mayoo,

are you able to post some pics as that would really help people see what you mean.

I don't know oncidiums myself but I'm sure with pics someone should be able to give advice.

If you have trouble posting pics take a look at this link.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...chidboard.html

[mayoo-k]

Pictures added. The oncidium in in quite a small pot, and I cant work out if what is hanging out are roots or stems?

regards
Mayoo

[zxyqu]

If I'm seeing this right, those are definitely roots growing. I'm confused at the setup of the last picture. Are those two pseudobulbs mounted to a stick above the media? I've never seen this before, but hopefully an Onc specialist will chime in.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Oncidiums like moderate to bright indirect light.

I wouldn't grow in moss, instead I'd use small grade bark.

Temperatures are like those for Phalaenopsis.

The white stringy stuff with the green tips are the roots. The rhizomes are much thicker and connect between pseudobulbs.

Check the roots on the older pseudobulbs.

[mayoo-k]

I stick is just what the whole plant is supported on. Am I to let the roots just wind its way down the vase I have or should I be mounting the whole plant? just the last time I mounted an orchid it ended with a dead plant!

Thanks for all the responses!!!! fingers crossed I'm looking forward to the flowers!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It's difficult to kill a mounted plant unless it was grown improperly to begin with. I doubt mounting a plant has such grave consequences, I believe it's more of a cultural mistake, such as using too much moss to cover the roots on the mount. Don't assume that all orchids grow on moss covered tree trunks and branches. Some actually don't. Some grow on tree trunks and branches covered with lichen (this doesn't retain too much moisture at all!).

You don't need to mount this plant, although, I don't see why you wouldn't succeed.

If you're going to pot it, put the roots into the pot carefully. Wetting them thoroughly before even working with them.

Like I said before, use bark only.

If you're going to mount it, I suggest looking up how this plant grows in nature. I hesitate to tell you to use moss to cover the roots, because in nature, it may not have moss growing around the roots at all.

[nenella]

Hi Mayoo,
I agree with King about mounting and I too would repot. It looks to me from your photos that it is currently potted in spag.moss?

[mayoo-k]

orchids mounted on some driftwood with the smallest amount moss. however, when i pulled the plant out other pot the main root that when into the bark snapped off and all I have left now is the roots that are dangling? will this be ok do you think?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

What's done is done. Nothing you can do about the dangling root. I'd remove the dangling portion as that's just going to die off anyways.

Just hope that this is enough to grow your plants.