HELP! what is it and what do i do? - Orchid Board

black_thumb · #1 09-28-2007, 12:05 AM

Ok so I just bought myself a cute little orchid from a nursery and I really want to keep this one alive. 5 years a go I had 3 phalaenopsis orchids at different times and all ended up dying. After the blooms fell off the stems went brown all the way down and then the leave started falling off. I still don’t know what I did wrong there. So this time I went with something different only I don’t know what it is.
The container says Oncidium Red with Yellow. And that’s it. The blooms are approx 2” wide and 2.5” tall and are fragrant. Not terribly so, it sits beside me on the desk as I type and I can not smell it but if I lean over an sniff a blossom it has a definite sweet smell, and then it makes me sneeze (lots of allergies). Inside the blossoms look a deep fuchsia with yellow centres and white and fuchsia lips, outside however it looks more of a deep kind of rusty red with some light yellow in the lip.
I was wondering if any one could tell me the following:
1. what is it?
2. when should I re-pot it and should I re-pot it into an ‘orchid pot’ that has holes in the side? Or should I be using plastic, terra cotta, glazed> or something else pots.
3. how often do I water it and how often to mist?
4. what exact lighting conditions are good? I have a very small basement apartment with limited options on where I can put it that the cats cant get to it. There is a ledge in the kitchen above my stove that gets direct afternoon light (though I know that they usually don’t like this) or next-door to the kitchen I have the bathroom with frosted glass windows (still facing west) that gets lots of afternoon light and direct late afternoon light, and I am putting a curtain up there. I also have a south facing bedroom window (faces another house) but the cats use that one so I would rather not take it from them. The original plan was to place it on the back of the toilet under the window.

ALSO there is one leave that is wilty and yellowing at the end, and a couple leaves have dark brown/rust/black spots. There is also one flower that is wilting and another that has been broken off. And I just knocked it over and it hit the floor…. Did I just kill it? One of the stems is bent over and it does not look good for it. Who

puddin · #2 09-28-2007, 12:15 AM

Well, welcome to the OB!
The black spots I have no idea about. The yellowing on the last leaf, I wouldn't worry about. At least I wouldn't. But don't carve my words in stone, though.

shakkai · #3 09-28-2007, 03:43 AM

Welcome to Orchid Board! Here is a care sheet from the AOS on Oncidium: http://www.orchidweb.org/aos/orchids...edoncidium.pdf

I'm not that familiar with Oncs to be able to point you in the right direction as far as indentification goes. It may have a name, or it may not - either way, that's a really pretty flower!

The spots on the leaves could be caused by misting/water on the leaves - this type really don't like it. Have you checked the roots of your new plant? Many times a plant has been sitting in decomposing medium for too long when its on sale, or it may not have been able to be watered correctly while on a sales table. The crinkled leaf is a sign of inconsistent watering (which this type of orchid is particularly sensitive to and prone to crinkled leaves therefore). This could also be the related to the yellowing leaf - but that could also just be a natural shedding of leaves and nothing to worry too much about, as Puddin says.

In general, orchid plants are a lot less delicate than people think and they can recover from pretty major tramas. I wouldn't think being knocked over would kill it. Find a place where it seems happy - you may have to move it around a couple of times to find just the place. Keep the watering even and not too heavy (soggy roots will kill it) and you should have one happy plant that will flower for you every year!

Becca · #4 09-28-2007, 12:11 PM

Hi black_thumb and welcome! As Puddin said, don't carve my words in stone, but this is what I think about the spots....the spots look like something that is bacterial. This is what I have done....moisten the area and put some cinnamon on the affected area...I say to moisten it so that the cinnamon will stick. I have found this to be helpful. Another member on this site has recommended treating with a plain brown Listerine spray, and I have also used Physan 20 for such problems. It probably isn't anything major, but it is better to be safe then sorry. Also, I wouldn't worry about the yellowing leaf...it just may be stressed and that is it's way of showing it. I also saw in the photo you have a crinkled looking leaf, which is called leaf pleating and is caused from lack of moisture or not enough water during growth (as shakkai mentioned). So what I was told was to check the roots...either it is not getting watered enough or the roots are rotted and cannot take up water. If you decide to repot it...make sure you make note of how high the potting medium is on the orchid now. I potted an Oncidium to deeply in my semi-hydro culture and I am having problems with rott so I am in the process of trying to bring it up a little in the pot.

Well I hope I haven't confused you and I hope others will give additional recommendations. Good luck!

Lagoon · #5 09-28-2007, 12:53 PM

Looks like a oncidium intergeneric, maybe a Burrageara.
They like cooler conditions and would prefer to stay under 75 degree's daytime and cooler at nite or they'll get pretty crabby and just won't do well.

From the photo's ... it looks pretty typical to have some spotting on the leaves, doesn't meen its bad or anything will major come from it - for many oncids it normal, They can and will spot up even more with higher lighting and even turn a pale'ish green to yellow color.

Discoloring of the tips of leaves can mean, not enough water, whether its becuz roots not getting enough water to the root zone due to rot or just lack of proper waterings, too much fertilizers, check for mites - not all mites web - some are red, some are white or green in color. You'll need a good sharp eye to see these - if in doubt you might wanna spray.

Welcome aboard

BTW -- Check on paramount ochids, you just may find an ID there.

look here ---> Oncidium Intergenerics A thru H

Phantasm · #6 09-28-2007, 01:09 PM

I agree it is most likely Burrageara Nelly Isler which has a Miltoniopsis parent that will heavily affect the culture. Give it intermediate conditions, keep moist but not wet and less than cattleya light. Typical of these kinds of plants, they will lose leaves on the back growths but as long as new growth is present you have nothing to worry about.

Depending on how long it has been in the present mix, you might want to repot it into a fine bark mix in a plastic pot to retain moisture. Dropping the plant won't kill it and it will just show some cosmetic leaf damage.

quiltergal · #7 09-28-2007, 01:12 PM

Hi Black Thumb, welcome to OB.

Your plant is from the Onc. alliance as the tag says. By the looks of the flowers there is probably some Miltoniopsis/Miltonia whatever they're being called these days along with Oncidium. So it's some kind of intergeneric hybrid in the Oncidium alliance. The Milt. influence may make it prefer slightly cooler temps than Onc. It's hard to say without knowing exactly what hybrid it is.

As others have pointed out already your plant has not gotten enough water during the growing season, and that's why that new leaf is pleated up. When they are actively growing they're heavy drinkers.

There may be a number of reasons for this. Could be it didn't get watered much at the store, or it could be a case of root rot from too much water. If the roots are rotted then the plant will not get enough water. Air flow to the root zone is critical in all orchids. You want it planted in something that drains easily and quickly.

If it were mine I would repot. Grocery stores and big box stores such as Lowes and Home Depot are notorious for selling plants in terrible medium. As for the bent spike try splinting it. Use a drinking straw or something lightweight like that, straighten out that spike and tape it to the straw. It may or may not keep the flowers from dropping but it's worth a try!

Keep us posted.

Ray · #8 09-29-2007, 09:50 AM

This is going to sound way too much like advertising, but really isn't:

As you're a novice, you may find that the plant will do best for you if grown using semi-hydroponic culture. The oncidium intergenerics do very well in it, and it will help eliminate the orchid-culture errors you have made in the past. Start here: All about Semi-Hydroponics

Do not even consider repotting the plant until it is past blooming and starting to form new growths at the bases of the existing pseudobulbs. In the mean time, dampen the pot when it is dry, keep it in household temperatures, probably in a southern window up in Canada this time of year. If the sun gets too strong, back it up a bit from the window.

Don't bother misting, as it does next-to-nothing beneficial for the plant, but if you "must", spray the air, not the plant.