How to deal with "burying" oncidium bulbs?

[ilikeorchids]

Hi guys!!!

So this is my recently purchased oncidium and I had to repot it.



It has many roots and a nice flower spike.but the problem is, this oncidium, like most oncidiums, is in a "climbing" growth like in the wild, they would ascend up to the trees and "climb". For the roots of the highest bulb and it's baby, I had to bury the lowest bulb...ugh.





I have watched youtube videos and they say that you should not bury it because it will rot and I don't want to rot this orchid. What should I do???? Should I leave it buried? I don't really know what I am doing here...but I have thought of a plan:

Can I just divide the lowest pseudo bulb and plant it alone to propagate? But some people say this is not good because the old pseudobulbs (not dead) will nourish new growth until it dies...but how can that be applied to my orchid? Should I just mount it? But I haven't had succes with mounting yet, and I am worried the lowest pseudobulb will rot.please help me! The orchid has been disturbed once by repotting and now, I'm gonna do something again and it will again stess it..ugh...
Hope this orchid will do fine

[kimstwin]

Is it possible to just remove some mix from around the buried bulb?

What type of media is the plant potted in?

Personally, I would try to keep the bulb because the plant doesn't have lots of bulbs to begin with.

[ilikeorchids]

Originally Posted by kimstwin

Is it possible to just remove some mix from around the buried bulb?

What type of media is the plant potted in?

Personally, I would try to keep the bulb because the plant doesn't have lots of bulbs to begin with.

Maybe I can try that but is still need some opinions

[Bulbofett]

Originally Posted by ilikeorchids

Hi guys!!!

It has many roots and a nice flower spike.but the problem is, this oncidium, like most oncidiums, is in a "climbing" growth like in the wild, they would ascend up to the trees and "climb". For the roots of the highest bulb and it's baby, I had to bury the lowest bulb...ugh.

"climbing" is what they do. It is in their nature. Burying the bulbs will not train the orchid to grow the way you want it to, but that's ok because this is what makes orchids amazing!

Repot this guy so all bulbs are above the media. You did the right thing by potting this guy up against the wall of the pot, just make sure the new growths are facing toward the inside of the pot. All of the new growths should grow toward the center of the pot that way.

Even with careful potting don't be surprised if you have a rogue growth that decides to grow out of the pot. I have several orchids who think the bark is more brown in someone else's pot

[Ray]

I agree. Even if you plant them flat, resulting in the current growths being at an angle, the new growths will be vertical.

[ilikeorchids]

Originally Posted by Ray

I agree. Even if you plant them flat, resulting in the current growths being at an angle, the new growths will be vertical.

I will plant the bulbs all at the same height not minding the angle of the bulbs...try...

[tarev]

Keep the bulbs together for now. Typically you need to have at least 3 to 4 bulbs together. The older bulbs that has already done its bloom cycle will now just provide energy to the younger ones.

As already mentioned, they are such climbers..that is just the way they are. So keep the bulbs that you can just sitting on top of the media, bury the roots that you can, and just stake the other pbs that you cannot put in.

I encountered similar problem, and the only way I can make it work is to find a container with a small wall backing for it. I do not have space to mount them, so the style of the container worked. In my area the Oncidiums are just always thirsty, since it does not rain here a lot, humidity very low and our summer heat wave in effect and our ongoing drought is just taking its toll. So some of my bulbs are just too wrinkled looking. But I am not worried now. Have seen how prolific this plant is as long as you give it all the water it can get and at the same time allow it to drain quick. As long as I see new growth coming about, it will continue on. It is important to encourage that new growth coming, the new bloom spikes will form on the new pseudobulbs.

This is how my Onc Dancing Lady looks like:
2 containers:
First one: front

back side: so surprised how that root just went way past that thick wall, and really attached to it.


2nd container: that climbing pb, just no way to put it at same level with the others, so I just let it go, I am hoping for those roots to soon attach to the wall of the container or start digging into the media when it touches it. Old so wrinkly looking bulbs just there for support and energy.

I have been watering the ordhids freely every three days or during our triple digit days, just have to do it everyday in my area.





If you want to experiment and try just one bulb alone on its own container, you can certainly do that, but choose the healthiest pseudobulb and use a smaller container. In due time it will create new pseudobulbs around the base of the old bulb. I have eventually moved this orchid to the other type of container shown on the top part of this reply, because the plant is growing fast.

[ilikeorchids]

Originally Posted by tarev

Keep the bulbs together for now. Typically you need to have at least 3 to 4 bulbs together. The older bulbs that has already done its bloom cycle will now just provide energy to the younger ones.

As already mentioned, they are such climbers..that is just the way they are. So keep the bulbs that you can just sitting on top of the media, bury the roots that you can, and just stake the other pbs that you cannot put in.

I encountered similar problem, and the only way I can make it work is to find a container with a small wall backing for it. I do not have space to mount them, so the style of the container worked. In my area the Oncidiums are just always thirsty, since it does not rain here a lot, humidity very low and our summer heat wave in effect and our ongoing drought is just taking its toll. So some of my bulbs are just too wrinkled looking. But I am not worried now. Have seen how prolific this plant is as long as you give it all the water it can get and at the same time allow it to drain quick. As long as I see new growth coming about, it will continue on. It is important to encourage that new growth coming, the new bloom spikes will form on the new pseudobulbs.

This is how my Onc Dancing Lady looks like:
2 containers:
First one: front
Attachment 102523
back side: so surprised how that root just went way past that thick wall, and really attached to it.
Attachment 102524

2nd container: that climbing pb, just no way to put it at same level with the others, so I just let it go, I am hoping for those roots to soon attach to the wall of the container or start digging into the media when it touches it. Old so wrinkly looking bulbs just there for support and energy.

I have been watering the ordhids freely every three days or during our triple digit days, just have to do it everyday in my area.

Attachment 102526

Attachment 102525

If you want to experiment and try just one bulb alone on its own container, you can certainly do that, but choose the healthiest pseudobulb and use a smaller container. In due time it will create new pseudobulbs around the base of the old bulb. I have eventually moved this orchid to the other type of container shown on the top part of this reply, because the plant is growing fast.
Attachment 102527 Attachment 102528

Wow!! thank you for that!!! Maybe I will divide the lowest pseudo bulb and maybe plant that as a single plant again and expect some babies thank you!!!!!

[ilikeorchids]

Well, actually, when I checked the bulbs again, the lowest bulb has no roots I think I will mount it...? Will it be ok if I mount oncidiums? If I will mount it, I will put lots of sphagnum moss to retain moisture....I will mount it if that's ok and I will keep you guys updated

[james mickelso]

Most oncidiums grow from the base of last seasons pbulbs. As these new pbulbs grow they start to grow roots of their own. The older pbulbs, not really growing anymore start to lose their roots and become storage for the new growth. That's their only function. They don't need roots any longer as they aren't growing. So you end up with plants that look like yours. New roots on new growth. Some existing roots on the older growth and no viable roots on the oldest growth. Each pbulb is like a type of plant called an annual. Annuals grow for the season and when they have finished blooming, they die. Orchids don't die but instead are storage of energy in the form of starches and sugars with moisture. Their function is as extra stores for the new growth. In drought times, which happen more often than we think, this is the plants adaption to those lean times. There are some oncids that keep their roots for longer periods but most oncids grow this way. Even when you repot an oncid and see what look to be viable roots, they are usually just static storage masses and once the new growth starts, these will wither and start to shrink as the starches and sugars are used up by the new growth. I have always potted those oncids with this climbing trait with the lowest growth inclined and newest growth vertical. If I take off any of the older pbulbs, I take them with a minimum of three pbulbs. Four is better as this gets enough energy reserves for the new growth. I never repot until the newest growths have roots of their own.