Newbie Questions - Oncidium, Dendrobium, Paphiopedilum

[modifiedskittle]

Hey everyone!
I have several questions regarding a few of my new orchids. Most of the orchids I own are phalaenopsis type. I have owned those for years and have their care down pretty well and know what to expect. I recently branched out got a few other types and they are throwing me for some loops. Please help!

Oncidium -
I got this oncidium at a big box hardware store. I didn't notice it at the time, but there was some black stuff on the largest bulb. Other than that all p-bulbs were smooth and plump and looked okay. The plant was also in bloom. It was packed very tight in spagnum moss so I repotted it in bark and spagnum moss mix (mostly bark). The roots didn't look too good and I had to cut several of them off. I think maybe I shocked it because shortly after the blooms starting dying and the largest p-bulb wrinkled. I cut off the blooming stem to try and redirect energy to the p-bulbs. Shortly after that the other two p-bulbs started wrinkling and the largest p-bulb has black stuff all over it. I'm concerned it may be some kind of fungus. I think I overwatered this orchid in the beginning. I wasn't used to spagnum moss and when the p-bulbs started wrinkling I thought they were drying out. Overall I think I have had this plant for about 2 months. I know the p-bulbs won't plump back up and leaves look good. So am I on the right track with this orchid? Or should I be doing something else to help it?

Dendrobium -
I got this dendrobium at a nursery. From what I can tell it is a den phal, but other than that I have no id. I got this plant and shortly after the top two leaves became brown and sunken in. From the help of someone on this forum I determined it was sunburn from the car ride home and went ahead and cut those leaves off. Last week the buds started opening. Then over the weekend I started loosing buds before they bloomed. Last night I finally repotted. I was trying to wait until it had finished blooming, but after I started loosing buds I decided I should just go ahead. I repotted in bark and spagnum moss (mostly bark). It was VERY tightly packed in spagnum moss and took me over an hour to get it all out. Overall the roots looked good. I have only had this orchid for about a week and a half. Why am I loosing buds? Could it just be the environment change?

Paphiopedilum -
I got this orchid about a week and a half ago as well from a nursery. I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with this orchid. I just want to find out if it is normal for the bud to start drooping as it grows. Since I have never owned one before, I just don't know. If it is not normal I want to catch it before something bad happens to it. When I first got it, the bud was much more horizontal to the plant. Now it is much more droopy and vertical, but also larger so it is growing. Is this normal? Or is there something wrong with it?

I water approx. once a week depending on the orchid and started using wooden skewers to determine when it's time. All orchids are sitting in east facing windows, but don't get direct sunlight due to the house next door.

[WhiteRabbit]

I think these should all be ok. In my expericience, Oncidiums and Dens are quite resilient. I think the Den may have had just too much happen (maybe being hot in the car; as well as then getting a thorough repot - these both could result in bud drop)
As to the Paph ... it's been a while since I've had one bloom / in bud, but I do believe the bud 'droop' is normal ... Hopefully some others can chime in!

[modifiedskittle]

Thanks for your reply WhiteRabbit!

My paphiopedilum bud is starting to open so I'd say it is doing perfectly fine!! I'm pretty excited about it.

The Dendrobium is probably just trying to adjust to its new conditions, because other than the buds falling it seems to be doing well. Although... I use the wooden skewers to test the wetness of the plants. After I repotted this one 2 days ago I stuck the skewer in there. When I pulled it back out the next day it had this white stuff on there. Any idea what it is?? See pic below.

I'm still worried about the oncidium, but I guess I just have to trust that it will look bad for a while before it gets better? I guess we'll see.