Attempting to grow orchids again - repot or no?

[shams]

!

After a long hiatus, and a new house, I thought I would try growing orchids again. I currently have 7 phaleonosis NoIDs and a dendrobium NoID that the old owners left me, as well as I just got a Dendrobium Liberty White in bloom and an Oncidium Twinkle that is done blooming that I feel might need a repot.... but what's the best medium to repot it in?

When I tried this year's ago, I ended up with crinkled leaves, and the plant just didn'the do well. Currently I count 7 new growths on the outside of the plant.

Also....
I have no idea what to do with dendrobiums lol

Any help you could give would be great.

Thanks!

[SirCatofBloominCheshireC:]

I would say repot the oncidium right away. I have one that looked just like yours and it kept right on growing in its pot, but the overcrowding made the new growths tiny and weak. Now after repotting in a larger pot, my problem is that I have too many growths on top and too few roots down in the media. So I'm giving the orchid a new diet of mostly "bloom booster" fertilizer and barely any high nitrogen growth fertilizer. I'm doing this because the "bloom booster" also acts as a root growth fertilizer so the plant can produce more roots to grow stronger again.

The potting mix depends on your growing area and temps and humidity levels, plus how often you like to water. I've found the Orchiata bark to be amazing at holding moisture in my plastic pots without keeping roots too wet. I grow in a very dry, cold climate. Also the clear plastic pots let you see how moist the media looks or if the roots are against the side of the pot, how dried out they look.

I'm no dendrobium grower, but I believe most of them like much more humid conditions. Thats why I can only dream about growing them for now

[Dollythehun]

I grow a couple Twinkles. The pleating is from lack of water. They are potting in medium bark, in clay. East window, slightly moist but not set. I probably water 2x a week this time of year. And, yes, it's time to repot.

[estación seca]

Some orchids should go dry between watering, but not Twinkle. People use all sorts of media for it. If you tend to water too much, use something that dries faster, like medium bark. If you underwater, use fine bark or loose sphagnum moss. Oncidiums also do well in semi-hydroponic culture.

As for the Dendrobium, different kinds take different culture. Do you have a name? Can you post photos?

[Dollythehun]

The photo is unclear but, a cursory search of Dendrobium "Liberty White" turns up a Dendrobium Phalanopsis. Don't let the name confuse you. They like a smallish pot, and it helps if the pot is heavy and low, else you will have to set it in something since they get top heavy. Water maybe 2x a week during growth, Phalanopsis light or brighter. It loses it's leaves every couple years but those canes will still nourish the plant and bloom. They can be very ugly plants but are very rewarding.

Sorry, I always use bark, the size depending on the plant. I pot in clay as I grow all plants in similar conditions. Hope this helps.

[shams]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

The photo is unclear but, a cursory search of Dendrobium "Liberty White" turns up a Dendrobium Phalanopsis. Don't let the name confuse you. They like a smallish pot, and it helps if the pot is heavy and low, else you will have to set it in something since they get top heavy. Water maybe 2x a week during growth, Phalanopsis light or brighter. It loses it's leaves every couple years but those canes will still nourish the plant and bloom. They can be very ugly plants but are very rewarding.

Sorry, I always use bark, the size depending on the plant. I pot in clay as I grow all plants in similar conditions. Hope this helps.

Let's see if I've managed to figure out the phone app.....

So the first 2 pictures are the new Den. Liberty White. I really liked the green on the blooms I know I can repot it until the blooms are done, but it is currently very top heavy in a small plastic pot, so for now I've popped it in a bigger clay pot. So it stops falling over.

The second Den. is the smaller one that came with my house. I don't know what it is, but it looks like it has newer growth on it that I hope will flower.... but I know nothing of dens or how they grow. It is currently potted in bark.

I've got one of the bigger phals in the background for scale.

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[Dollythehun]

I am not an expert, Nikki but, they both look like Den Phals to me...If, I am wrong, another member will correct me. But, here is a test: bend the leaves gently if it seems they would break, they are probably den Phals. If they bend (flexible) they are not. In the dendrobium forum there is a sticky at the top that explains how to decide and care for each. Good luck! By the way, that looks like a good window for orchids!

[shams]

[IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170220/e4c2a79356b56fe2412c1e34cc0ab478.jpg[/IMG

]It seems to be a great window for orchids! The lady who owned the house before said some of these phals were 5 years old. (She left them for me when she moved into a retirement home.)

I was just about to repot the Twinkle and was looking over the phals to repot one or 2 of them and one of the ones that need the repotting apparently has a surprise for me!

I guess I have to wait now...... even though I think I may have over watered it a little.....


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[Dollythehun]

Won't open but I'm guessing it's a scape. You can still repot if you are careful.