Shriveled Pbulbs on Oncid. Type - Orchid Board

butterfly_muse · #1 07-25-2013, 05:15 PM

Afternoon, all. I have an oncidium intergeneric, beallara, and its pbulbs have gone SO shriveled on me!

I got it a few weeks ago and it was potted in moss. I watered it when I got it home and then left it alone until I got some CHC...which I soaked overnight and repotted it in last weekend. Since I soaked the roots of the plant itself in some KelpMax before repotting, AND the CHC was damp from having been soaked, I didn't water it.

When I initially got it, its pbulbs were nice and firm and fat. And now it looks like this. It's also very floppy and sad, which I guess is an indication of it disliking the light it's receiving? It looks so sad and miserable, I feel awful.

How do I help it? I watered it as soon as I noticed, but...I've never had one of these before and now I feel really bad.

It's in a west facing window with lace on the window and a tree outside. Is it not getting enough light?

Thanks.

FSUOrchids · #2 07-25-2013, 05:46 PM

It's probably not getting enough water if that's happening

cbuchman · #3 07-25-2013, 05:49 PM

Oncidiums can be picky about being re-potted and may it take a little while to settle into its new medium. I would not be too concerned. The wrinkled pbulb is supporting the newer growth right now. Hopefully the Kelpmax application will encourage new roots soon.

As a general rule, oncidiums with thin roots require more water than those with fat fleshy roots. They key is to learn when the medium is almost dry befor watering again.

butterfly_muse · #4 07-25-2013, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbuchman

Oncidiums can be picky about being re-potted and may it take a little while to settle into its new medium. I would not be too concerned. The wrinkled pbulb is supporting the newer growth right now. Hopefully the Kelpmax application will encourage new roots soon.

As a general rule, oncidiums with thin roots require more water than those with fat fleshy roots. They key is to learn when the medium is almost dry befor watering again.

I have a skewer in there that I check all the time...=\ Are these the type that want to be moist a lot (but not soaked, though not dry)

WhiteRabbit · #5 07-25-2013, 08:56 PM

Water when skewer is barely moist. It is also using stored resources in the older pbulb towards the new growth. Older pbulbs don't usually re-plump.

butterfly_muse · #6 07-25-2013, 09:05 PM

So is it normal? Because when I pulled the skewer out today, it was barely moist, as you said, so I watered it. But it wasn't bone dry and the roots didn't look bad...but the pbulb has literally done this over just this week. Is it because of the medium change or is it natural for it to do this?

WhiteRabbit · #7 07-25-2013, 10:24 PM

It looks more shriveled than I would expect just from age and new growth - but it's not horribly bad. If the new growth is coming in well (no pleated 'accordian' leaves), it is probably fine. Honestly, my one Bllra I had, I seemed to have a heck of a time getting the watering right. I think too much water is worse than erring on the side of slightly less.

butterfly_muse · #8 07-25-2013, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

It looks more shriveled than I would expect just from age and new growth - but it's not horribly bad. If the new growth is coming in well (no pleated 'accordian' leaves), it is probably fine. Honestly, my one Bllra I had, I seemed to have a heck of a time getting the watering right. I think too much water is worse than erring on the side of slightly less.

Its new leaves and growth is not coming in like that, but all the existing pbulbs are like that.

I will try to pay more attention to it as far as water. I am afraid of overwatering it, so I tried to be conservative with it..but maybe it is too conservative.

Also, now that the pbulbs are shriveled, have I damaged them to where they can't/won't hold as much water as before?

james mickelso · #9 07-26-2013, 11:04 AM

The old pbulbs are finished with their job. Producing new pbulbs. Now that there is new growth they won't do anything else but distribute their remaining starch/sugar and moisture to the new pbulb. Oncids don't like to be repotted unless everything is perfect. We don't often provide perfect so they sulk. Perfect is warm (80*f) moist but not wet, medium light levels, and lots of air movement especially around the root area. Oncids don't like their roots wet. Just moist. The optimal time to repot oncids is just as the new growth is producing new roots. The roots of oncids are very thin and fragile so when we take the plant from the pot, the roots get minute cracks and bruises along their length. This allows their moisture to leak out so to speak and they get wilted. Unless the new growth is becoming wilted and pleated, the plant is ok. It takes a season to really get them going again. It is imperative that you do not overwater them as the root system has been compromised and the roots can't function normally providing enough water for the plant. And because the root system is dense, water stays underneath longer than normal. Let it dry out thoroughly and then lift the pot and feel how light weight it is. Now water really well, let drain and then lift it again. Feel the difference? It should be very noticeable. Now you know for sure when to water.

butterfly_muse · #10 07-26-2013, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james mickelso

The old pbulbs are finished with their job. Producing new pbulbs. Now that there is new growth they won't do anything else but distribute their remaining starch/sugar and moisture to the new pbulb. Oncids don't like to be repotted unless everything is perfect. We don't often provide perfect so they sulk. Perfect is warm (80*f) moist but not wet, medium light levels, and lots of air movement especially around the root area. Oncids don't like their roots wet. Just moist. The optimal time to repot oncids is just as the new growth is producing new roots. The roots of oncids are very thin and fragile so when we take the plant from the pot, the roots get minute cracks and bruises along their length. This allows their moisture to leak out so to speak and they get wilted. Unless the new growth is becoming wilted and pleated, the plant is ok. It takes a season to really get them going again. It is imperative that you do not overwater them as the root system has been compromised and the roots can't function normally providing enough water for the plant. And because the root system is dense, water stays underneath longer than normal. Let it dry out thoroughly and then lift the pot and feel how light weight it is. Now water really well, let drain and then lift it again. Feel the difference? It should be very noticeable. Now you know for sure when to water.

That's what I had been doing but then it got upset and shriveled up, lol. I have watered it all of 2 times since I've had it for 2.5 weeks...I sincerely hope that's not overwatering.