Orchid in dirt?

[Jinx]

Ya the smaller bulb is half mushy and half hard.

[kindrag23]

Cut it off. That is a not good sign; could be to over watering or infection. The older phulb will most likely shoot new babies but that one is now sick. Use sterilized instruments and cinnamon. I would also place in clean media. I would suggest keeping away from all others just to be safe.

[Jinx]

Could it be caused by cold? Cuz i think that window could have gotten down too high 50s?

[Leafmite]

Yes, I'd remove that smaller bulb. It is rotting and the rot will spread to the other if not removed.
The oncidium will recover but do get it out of the 'dirt'. These do well in red lava rock or leca as a medium. You can also grow them in bark but keep the pot small so the bark dries quickly. Good luck!

---------- Post added at 11:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:14 PM ----------

It would need to be colder to harm the orchid. My oncidiums were outside when temps dipped into the 30'F this summer (cold summer). I did cover them with a plastic drop cloth. If daytime temps are in the fifties consistently, I would find a warmer place for the orchid, especially since it needs to recover.

[Jinx]

Thanks for the help everyone ! I cut off that bulb. Ill repot on sunday. Its normally 65-70 in this room during the day and 50s in that window at night.

[mmrobledo]

These orchids are sold to trader joes or even to some nurseries and they claim they pot them in dirt so they could be wet longer but that is why when we buy orchids in these places it is very hard for them to survive i think it is a crime to pot them in dirt ...

[Ordphien]

I know that Trader Joe's supplier uses an orchid mix that looks exactly like dirt. But it's actually an airy soil less mixture they use on their thinner rooted orchids. Like oncidiums.

So that might be what it is. However it might also be what's rotting them.
It works great in the nursery, and in my friends home. She loves the medium in her house. But that stuff means death by rot in my home.

But there is a good chance it's not actually soil.


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[Jinx]

I live in southern canada. Hot in the summer, freezing cold in winter. I can go with watering once a month in winter and once a week or so in the summer. It seems to be hard to find something that works really well for these kind of conditions. Its real easy to get rot in the winter

[Cym Ladye]

Ordphien is correct. This is not "dirt" but a mix of different non soil ingredients. It may or may not be broken down but the one bulb is definitely showing signs of rot and should be removed if you have not already taken the plant back. Unfortunately, these plants purchased at TJs and the like are meant to be "throw away" plants. Enjoy the blooms and then toss them out. The vendors and stores could care less if they survive.

CL

[Optimist]

Just get some chunkier bark and re-pot it. I think that oncidiums like a medium bark mix because they have fine roots. It could also be choir. Choir is actually not a bad potting medium for the fine rooted oncidiums because it has good drainage. I would trust choir before spagham moss. .