Need help with orchid identification

[Rez]

Hi guys,

New here. I've been growing orchids for about six months now. My first one was a gifted dendrobium which is just now sending up new growth. I also have a few phaelanopses, one of which rescued from *severe* root rot and has sent out lots of new roots and is just starting to send out its second new leaf (pic attached).



I also just bought two huge guys at a plant festival and I think they are oncidiums but I'm not sure what type, and if they have special care requirements? They are the first two pictures attached.

Also, I have had this oncidium (pic below) for a couple of months now and the pseudo bulbs look dry to me. It came in moss/dirt and I repotted into bark/charcoal mix after it flowered after seeing what moss did to my phals roots. So I'm wondering if oncidiums are heavier drinkers and maybe it should be in a moss mixture?


The additional complication is that I think my tap water has a LOT of softening salt in it because before some of my other plants didn't do well when watered with it so I have to buy gallon reverse osmosis water from Publix which is a pain. Any better/efficient watering strategies and suggestions are welcome..

Thanks to whoever takes the time to read this and offer some help and answers!

[Rez]

Sorry this should be a more high res image of the dried oncidium.

[Bud]

What is your grow zone?
Humidity and temperature readings?
Is that a south facing windowsill? Its nice and bright maybe Vandas can live there too.
Any salt deposits will show on the leaves, and I don't see any ....I think its chlorine that you are worried about you can always put water in a pail and let it stand overnight; the chlorine will evaporate and you can safely water the plants....
You need to elevate the Phalaenopsis pot maybe use a box or a stand so the leaf wont get folded in to rule out fungi or bacteria infectation
Find a watering regimen for your Oncs the bulbs are shriveling....I usually let the media mix get dry then I water again

[Rez]

I'm in Florida and its a west facing window.

The Phal is doing really well. The wilted wrinkled leaves were like that when it had root rot, so I know they won't recover visually. It's been about 4 months since I cut off all the bad roots which was about 80% of its root system so I think it's doing remarkably well considering.

Yeah the oncidium and its watering routine is what I really need advice with regarding care right now.

[Bud]

its not only watering the plants....the orchids need to be fed as well....fertilizer weekly weakly

[Rez]

I fertilize them too weakly weekly!

[cbuchman]

The purple one is a Miltassia most likely Charles M.. Fitch or a close relative. The Yellow one is an Oncidium hybrid, maybe an odontoglossom.

Oncidiums with thin roots do need more water that those with thick roots. It is also natural for older pseudobulbs to wrinkle up as the plant draw it's nutrients from the pbulb storage.

Hope that helps a little.