Unknown orchid species not doing well. Looks sick but I don't know why.

[AmberVon]

I swear, not all my orchids look like this.

I can't figure out what to do here. I have several species that seem to be doing great. This one... not so much... and I've only had it since February. Some of the leaves are yellowing. as you can see. The bases are all wrinkled. There's one bit of new growth on the side that looks good though it is very sticky - don't know if THAT is normal.

The first two attachments are what it looked like when I brought it home with blooms in February for identification if anyone knows.

[Zoi2]

The plant is an oncidium of some sort (sorry, I don't grow many so don't know all the names)
You are keeping it WAY to dry.
What do the roots look like?
Joann

[WhiteRabbit]

that's an Oncidium - maybe Sweet Sugar Orchid Web: Oncidium Sweet Sugar

it's severely dehydrated - that could be from underwatering, or very likely overwatering causing the roots to rot
- I'd definitely check the roots

all is not lost, I have had good luck getting Oncidiums to recover - a smaller pot might be in order

what kind of media are you growing this in? how often do you water it?

[glengary54]

First let me say that your plant is Oncidium Jiuhbao Gold (Oncidium Shonan X Oncidium Kaizumic Delight), that being said, you have issues with your roots. Only two things will make your bulbs shrivel like those in the pictures. One you watered too much and killed the roots and two you haven't watered enough and killed the roots. Pull the plant out of its pot and examine the roots, if they are brown/black and mushy you watered to much and rotted them, if they are white and hollow, you didn't water enough. Let me know what you find, it would help if we could see pictures of the roots. The fact that it is pushing out new growth is a good thing, there just may be hope for it.

[dounoharm]

akkk!! it is dessicated to the point of death....it is way too dry, for some reason, probably no roots, it isnt absorbing water....unpot, check the roots, trim the bad ones off, soak it in some sugar water, leaves and all....at least overnite....pot it in wet medium and leave it alone for a week then water thoroughly....do you have adequate drainage in that pot? it doenst look like there is much drainage....it could be suffocated....orchid roots need air....a slotted pot would be more appropriate....when you repot, make sure it isnt moving around in the pot, use a rhyzome clip to hold it in place while it forms roots...if it wiggles it wont root....gl

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by glengary54

...your plant is Oncidium Jiuhbao Gold (Oncidium Shonan X Oncidium Kaizumic Delight)

Which means it's a hybrid, not a species.

No, this is not normal, it's dehydrated (as was previously mentioned). Either it wasn't watered enough, or it was way over watered and the roots were badly damaged (it's uncertain which it is because you never mentioned how regularly you watered the plant).

It is best to pull the plant out to look at the roots and see how they're doing as "glengary" had said.

Should the roots be badly damaged, it may still survive and may still grow new roots, idk (notice I didn't use the words "can", "will" or even "definitely will"; I used the word "may").

[AmberVon]

AHHHHH! You are all the best. I appreciate your help and I'm sure my orchids will, too.

I think you're absolutely right. And it sure does look like Sweet Sugar. I looked up Oncidium Shonan X Oncidium Kaizumic Delight and I found a couple photos that look a lot like it too!

And, yes, I overwatered it. I'm not quite sure how because the orchids around it seem to be doing well so far and one of my very happiest orchids grows like mad and has bloomed twice this year in the same kind of pot. Different species, though.

Except for the cymbidiums, I always water the rest of the orchids on Sunday and *sometimes* if it's especially hot or dry out I'll water them a little some time during the week. Almost all of them are planted in Miracle Grow Orchid Mix which is very chunky and 'barky'.

Unfortunately, when I repotted this one, I experimented a little and added some of the other Miracle Grow orchid mix which is very fine and dense. I wonder if that's partly where I went astray. I thought it might like a mix. N00B.

SO... I just unpotted it. I'm attaching a photo. The dark roots aren't mushy and are firm but don't look good compared to the roots that were laying on top of the soil.

[cythaenopsis]

It definitely looks like that pot has no slots/holes on the sides. Probably some small holes on the bottom, but that's still not adequate. I suspect over watering too--the roots don't look like they're getting enough drainage and a bunch have probably rotted. But my guesses are just that... very curious to see what the OP finds when pulling the plant out.

EDIT: Just noticed the updated post. Ah yes, that potting mix may indeed be too dense. I think you're right in that each orchid species has its own optimal/minimal watering requirements. I'm not familiar with this Oncidium Sweet Sugar, but it sure is beautiful. If you can, try to put some broken curved clay pot or clam shell pieces over the holes on the inside of the pot, to help avoid them getting plugged up so that drainage is good. Or... get a plastic pot with side slots that will fit inside this one. That would probably be the best thing at least for the short term until the plant is healthy again.

[Gage]

What a beautiful Oncidium! I'm sorry to see your misfortune with this one. On the other hand, a lot of Oncidiums can really bounce back with some help. What kind of light has it been getting?

[Rainshadow]

Yup, same experiment with Miracle Grow mix I made with my Zygo...snatched from the jaws of death and recovering nicely, hope your plant does as well.

Rainshadow