Oncidium with brown and yellowing leaves

[Poppyseed]

So one of the main reasons for becoming a member here on OB, would be my Oncidium. I believe it is known as "Twinkle" but I have yet to see it flower. I bought it for $5 on clearance because it was no longer in bloom. It definitely wasn't in the best shape when I brought it home, but now it seems to be developing yellow leaf tips, and brown spotting (almost like my sunburnt Phal. in the background) However, I am confused, there is tons of new growth! Should I be cutting the yellowing, browning leaves off? And if so, should I cut just the spots, or all the way down to the Pseudo?

Help would be much appreciated!





(Please forgive the poor quality of the photos, my camera died and I had to take some quick shots...)

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

These are ridiculously easy to grow and bloom. This is a great choice for a beginner. It's also very rewarding and charming.

The "yellowing" on the leaf is sunburn.

As long as the plant is vigorously putting out new growths, don't worry about it. Just continue to grow them properly and you'll be fine.

New roots should be coming along soon, so take care of the roots too.

Don't worry about blooms, they'll come. Your plant is too weak and too small. Take care of the new growths and make sure they get big and strong. You're bound to see flowers sometime in the next bloom cycle.

It shouldn't take too long with proper care to see and smell the flowers.

Feel free to ask more specific questions if you want to know something.

[Poppyseed]

quick update. this little guy has more than tripled in size with 4 new pseudobulbs! the roots are all crisp white with beautiful foliage! my only problem is that when i transplanted it awhile back i placed it to close to the edge of the pot and it's growing in the opposite direction i thought it would. is it dangerous to transplant again so soon? i would hate to slow it down with it doing so well...

also off topic, i just bought a larger onc. known as 'sunny daze hilo bay' of course the medium looks AWFUL and is almost completely decomposed with a little snow-like mold on the surface. the plant has 3 full blooming spikes that are still pushing out flowers...regardless i have to transplant ASAP,but when i trim the roots and all that jazz, is it going to drop all of the buds and flowers?

(i also purchase a little Phal for my dad's house and it's already shooting out a keiki! i was shocked because i've had all of mine for a couple of years and still have not seen such a thing!)

[Call_Me_Bob]

awesome! glad to hear it is growing! as for the phal you said got sunburnt, it looks like the pot is too big

[nutgirl]

Originally Posted by Poppyseed

quick update. this little guy has more than tripled in size with 4 new pseudobulbs! the roots are all crisp white with beautiful foliage! my only problem is that when i transplanted it awhile back i placed it to close to the edge of the pot and it's growing in the opposite direction i thought it would. is it dangerous to transplant again so soon? i would hate to slow it down with it doing so well...

also off topic, i just bought a larger onc. known as 'sunny daze hilo bay' of course the medium looks AWFUL and is almost completely decomposed with a little snow-like mold on the surface. the plant has 3 full blooming spikes that are still pushing out flowers...regardless i have to transplant ASAP,but when i trim the roots and all that jazz, is it going to drop all of the buds and flowers?

(i also purchase a little Phal for my dad's house and it's already shooting out a keiki! i was shocked because i've had all of mine for a couple of years and still have not seen such a thing!)

So glad the little onc is doing well. If you feel you need to repot just to reposition it, it shouldn't be too traumatic. Maybe you can keep the roots together, shake out some of the medium and just move it over a bit.

Re the larger one, I would rather risk losing some buds and flowers than have your plant die from root rot in decomposed medium. It sounds pretty bad.

Maureen

[Poppyseed]

Well i took the chance and wound up re-potting the larger onc. and discovered a terrible mess. the inner core of the root ball was shaped like a smaller pot. so it was pretty much pulled out of it's pot and stuck into a larger pot filled with small chips and perlite during it's previous transplant. The medium was majority decomposed and rotting with bits and pieces of mold throughout. I just hope that I wasn't to rough with it while cleaning it up and I really hope it makes it...

[Poppyseed]

Originally Posted by help

awesome! glad to hear it is growing! as for the phal you said got sunburnt, it looks like the pot is too big

yeah, initially when i got that phal it was a lot bigger and healthier and it fit nicely in that pot. my old roommate moved it outside in the sun thinking it would be good for it and it got totally destroyed roots, leaves and all. After a few months of no new root growth and nothing going on with the foliage, i gave up on it

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by Poppyseed

yeah, initially when i got that phal it was a lot bigger and healthier and it fit nicely in that pot. my old roommate moved it outside in the sun thinking it would be good for it and it got totally destroyed roots, leaves and all. After a few months of no new root growth and nothing going on with the foliage, i gave up on it

awww....

the pot is really too big especially if you have moss

[Poppyseed]

Originally Posted by help

awww....

the pot is really too big especially if you have moss

yeah i'm looking back on the picture and it looks really lonely and pathetic in there...wonder why i wasn't having any success, huh? oh well, you live and you learn!

[Call_Me_Bob]

yep! you live you learn