Oncidium twinkle not thriving

[leslieann79]

Ive had this plant for a few months and its failing to thrive. This is my only oncidium ever. I'm treating it like my other plants which are doing great. Maybe it just doesnt like semi-hydro? Any advice? The leaves are doing this weird wrinkling thing.

[Ordphien]

Not enough water.
I personally can't grow oncidiums.
But I've killed enough to know what it looks like.
Check the roots.
I'm guessing one of two things happened. You either underwatered, causing the roots to die off. Or over watered, which also cause to roots to die off.
Both result in a dehydrated plant.
After you figure out if they desiccated or rotted adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

[leslieann79]

They are probably rotted due to me putting it in semi hydro. That does happen sometimes but the plants usually bounce back quite quickly (well the phals and catts do.) Oh well if it doesnt like semi-hydro then its not the plant for me. I guess I will wait and see.

[Dante1709]

I would wait. It's generally a pretty adaptable plant, and since it's an Oncidium, it doesn't like to dry out as much as phals, dens and catts.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I've never grown this orchid in semi-hydro, but I've found this orchid to be fairly easy to grow without it.

If you're concerned about having to change out and waste organic potting materials, then growing in lava rock, and not leaving it in standing water is best.

Just water the orchid every time the media dries out.

Same with your Paph. Instead of placing it in a situation where there is a pool of standing water, try using the same LECA material and just watering it when it dries out. Like I said in your other post, Paphs generally don't like to be placed in standing water, they don't grow this way in the wild. Water usually dribbles between the crevices and keeps the Paph's roots moist. A very large majority of them are not near running or standing water.

[leslieann79]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

I've never grown this orchid in semi-hydro, but I've found this orchid to be fairly easy to grow without it.

If you're concerned about having to change out and waste organic potting materials, then growing in lava rock, and not leaving it in standing water is best.

Just water the orchid every time the media dries out.

Same with your Paph. Instead of placing it in a situation where there is a pool of standing water, try using the same LECA material and just watering it when it dries out. Like I said in your other post, Paphs generally don't like to be placed in standing water, they don't grow this way in the wild. Water usually dribbles between the crevices and keeps the Paph's roots moist. A very large majority of them are not near running or standing water.

Thanks for this! I think I will take your advice on this one for the oncidium. The paph I'm still going to toss since it shows such obvious signs of disease.

---------- Post added at 07:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:05 PM ----------

The Onc is repotted in a traditional pot with hydroton. We will see how it goes.

[Optimist]

I would suggest some small bark on the top of the hydroton. This onc has very thin roots. It does not like to be totally dry. Oncidiums have a variety of root sizes. Thin seems to want dampness, thick can stand being more dry. This makes sence since they inhabit many regions and growing zones, anf the hybrids also are a mix of various growing zones. I've never let my twinkle dry out. Nice fat bulbs and no accordian leaves. Any accordioning and you know there isn't enough moisture or humidity. Also, phals take much less moisture. Notice the different thickness of the roots.

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[Optimist]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I would suggest some small bark on the top of the hydroton. This onc has very thin roots. It does not like to be totally dry. Oncidiums have a variety of root sizes. Thin seems to want dampness, thick can stand being more dry. This makes sence since they inhabit many regions and growing zones, anf the hybrids also are a mix of various growing zones. I've never let my twinkle dry out. Nice fat bulbs and no accordian leaves. Any accordioning and you know there isn't enough moisture or humidity. Also, phals take much less moisture. Notice the different thickness of the roots.

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I am not talking about standing water by the way. It is just when the water drains through the pot, the rocks can remain a bit damp, the roots still need air movement. The top bark keeps a bit more moisture in, but it should not create an anorobic situation.

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[james mickelso]

Oncids don't like to be wet. Damp is ok but they don't tolerate wet conditions like SH. I have known a few folks who swear by it and do fine but for the most part I haven't seen it used frequently. From the pics I would say most of these roots are gone. But that doesn't mean the plant can't grow and grow well. It's just that the plant has grown all it will until new growth comes along. In most cases oncids and their relatives won't replump after getting dehydrated whether after new growth/flowering or dehydrating from root loss or lack of watering. If these were mine I would get them out of this pot/media and put them in moss. Very loose moss inside some Tupperware. These pbulbs are spent. I see one which is somewhat plump and that is the one on which you need to concentrate. That is the one from which the new growth will emerge. The moss environment will keep it humid enough to encourage new growth from the base of the newest pbulb while not encouraging rot. I would also take some tweezers and slowly, carefully pull off all the old sheath material at the base of the old growth. Keeping them the way I see them here won't induce them any sooner if at all. Setting up a nice humid environment will help them push new growth. That new growth is all you'll get from this plant. Nothing here now will do anything but continue to deteriorate. Oncids are slow growers until you get new growth going. Then there is a spurt of growth and then they finish filling the pbulbs with starches/sugars and water. once that is done, they can flower but if there is not enough energy stored, they usually wait until a second growth period finishes and then they will flower. what you have here won't change for the better. They will stay the same until there is no energy left. New growth is what you're after. That is all that matters here.

[JMNYC]

I agree with all of the above offering, have also never grown in semi hydro, never will....and to me, this puppy looks not only overwatered, but overpotted too.

I would remove her, get rid of all rotted roots, dust her and put her in a small pot. I would use either fine bark mix or NZ Sphagnum. Drench her and let her go almost dry until you drench her again. Not only are orchids not engineered to sit in water, this is even truer for fine rooted ones than fat rooted ones. But it's true for all of them. Remember, perfectly draining media and tons of air to the roots is key.

Conjure a vision of how they grow in nature!!!!