Help to identify this orchid

[Katsminpins]

! I am new to the orchid board and fairly new to growing orchids in general. Most of my experience has been with Phaelaenopsis and cymbidiums. I just purchased this orchid at Trader Joe's and I am so confused! Is it an Oncidium, odontoglossum, or maybe a zygocaste???

[kwubb]

Looks like Zygopetalum.


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[Katsminpins]

Thanks! That's very helpful. I needed to find out how to take care of it

[RandomGemini]

Definitely a zygopetalum. Care is similar to that of oncidiums only I find that these Zygo hybrids at Trader Joe's seem to be much more tolerant of lower humidity than oncidiums do. Hope this helps!

[Katsminpins]

This helps a lot! Thank you

[astrid]

Zygopetalum, like everyone else said! Just so you know, there's a whole forum dedicated to identification, so you can post these questions there, too!

Congratulations. I passed up on some gorgeous zygos last year at Fred Meyer and I really regret it!! I like the ones with more green flowers than brown, though.

You've got such a collection already for someone who's still new! I see those miltoniopsis and dendrobium nobiles in the background

[Katsminpins]

Yes, I have the bug! I have around 30 orchids and have had success with the Phaelaenopsis but the others are new to me. Thank you for the information on the forum dedicated to identification. I'm that person who picks up an orchid I like and then try to figure out the rest!

[MrHungx]

This is somewhat off topic, but I noticed some of your other orchids in the background, and I happen to have the same ones (all bought from Trader Joe's).

For any orchid bought from Trader Joe's, I recommend immediately repotting it. I've probably bought around 50 orchids from Trader Joe's (only have 30 now and no, I didn't kill them) and the media (usually promix for non phals) is usually badly decomposed to the point the media looked like it was soil. I use a sphagnum/fir bark mix for all of my orchids as I find that the sphagnum moss helps keep the pseudobulbs nice and plump. As an added bonus, the sphagnum moss helps the media dry out evenly.

[RandomGemini]

I don't find I have that issue. What I do find though, is that they are usually extremely pot bound. Oncidiums like this sort of treatment and I leave them potted this way until the roots crawl out of the pot, or until the medium stops draining well. Water should pour straight through these promix potted plants. If it has a five second delay, the medium needs replacing.

[Katsminpins]

I have wondered about the potting mix in all of the orchids I buy at Trader Joes. I had no idea what it is and have also been wondering what to replace it with. I have oncidiums, miltononopsis and a dendrobium all purchased from Trader Joes and all in the same mix. Since they are all in bloom and seem to be doing ok I have been hesitant to repot but your advice is making me think I should go ahead and do it. All of these orchids seem to have such fine roots how do I repot? I'm used to the large roots of the phaelaenopsis.