Potting an unknown orchid - suggestions ?

[Davesp310]

I'm after a little help with my first attempt at potting an orchid. What type of orchid ? I'm afraid I''m not sure

This one was lying in the bottom of my father's shadehouse, in amongst all the weeds, etc, but not in a pot. I'm assuming it fell out of its pot at some point and has been happily (or perhaps not so happily ??) lying on the ground ever since.

So, what do I need to do to get this into a pot ? What sort of potting mix would be suitable ? I assume I will need to "trim" or prune it a little ? Whereabouts ? It has a few new looking bulbs with leaves, a few green bulbs with no leaves, and a few dead, brown looking bulbs.

[greengarden]

It looks like an Oncidium, mine like a medium size bark mix and a reasonable amount if water

[MattWoelfsen]

Hello Dave, it looks like an Oncidium. It looks like it was originally potted in sphagnum moss. If you are used to growing orchids in bark, you might what to pot this plant in bark. I would cut out the old brown pbulb. Try to remove as much of the old moss without removing healthy roots. If you are used to growing orchids in moss, then I would repot it in moss. Despite where this orchid has been, it is a testament to this orchid's survival-ability! Good find!

[Davesp310]

Thanks ! I'm not used to growing in anything, I've only taken on care of these ones in the last few weeks.

I have some bark mix, so I'll give that a go.

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by Davesp310

Thanks ! I'm not used to growing in anything, I've only taken on care of these ones in the last few weeks.

I have some bark mix, so I'll give that a go.

And another thing...<S>, use a smaller pot, and loosely pack the plant enough to keep it secure in the pot. Remember it has existed without any planting media before you found it.

Pot the plant with the old growth against the side, this will allow the growing side room. Oncidiums like to be sort of tight in the pot, and when you water, allow the plant to dry. You need to watch your newly potted plant as the new bark absorbs a lot of water, but as the weeks go bye, you'll water less frequently. This time of year is Springtime right? As your days get warmer, the plant should start producing new growths. If you have Kelp extract, or other root stimulating chemicals, consider giving the plant a dose of that stimulant.

[silken]

I agree with above advice. If you can, carefully clean up those old dried bracts that are brown where some of the roots are coming out of. Some oncidiums do this a lot and the dried parts sort of force the roots upward, whereas it would be easier to get some of the new roots in bark with that dried stuff cut away.

[Davesp310]

Finally got around to getting this into a pot - I did as suggested and trimmed the old dried growth and cleaned the old potting mix off the roots. Old growth against the side of the pot, around an inch of pot space on the new growth side for it to grow into. Potting mix was put in loosely so it needed a stake to keep it from falling over. I will go out on the weekend and look for some kelp extract or similar and give it a dose of that.

Yep, it is springtime here so hopefully it will get some new growth soon.

Thanks for all the suggestions ! And feel free to offer any advice as to what I've done wrong (is the pot too big ?? Next pot size down left no room for future growth ?). This potting / re-potting is quite enjoyable, I got all enthusiastic after doing the oncidium and tried re-potting a few others and potting a few keikis that were on some large Dendrobium kingianums.