Newbie, has a problem....

[james mickelso]

Oncidiums and most of their kin. They grow flower spikes once for each pseudobulb then produce new bulbs. One and if healthy, two. They like to be left alone. And they like to grow crowded. White roots with green tips? Good. Very good. If you repot, make sure you use a smaller size bark or other medium. They do not like to be kept wet though. They have lots of fine thin roots if healthy but they also are very prone to mealy bugs and spider mites. Color should be on the lighter side. Light should be medium and grown medium to cool. Older bulbs lose their leaves. The bulbs wrinkle as the starches within the tissue is used up for the new growth (or because they were allowed to get too dry. Do not over pot the oncidium alliance family. Do not allow to remain too wet. And they bloom "once" from from each bulb. Older bulbs usually won't produce new roots once it has grown it's prescribed set of leaves. Last year my Brassia "Rex" grew two 3 foot long spikes with upwards of 30 flowers on each shoot from all 5 mature pseudo bulbs. My Oncidium "Sherry Baby" also grew two on each pseudo bulb. Hope this helps.