Just purchased my first Oncidium! Any advice welcome

[sewagner86]

Hello all!

I just purchased an Oncidium called Sunny Daze "Hilo Bay". I am super excited to branch from Phaleanopsis orchids and learn and care for something new.

With that said, I have done some research on them. I hate spending money with the thought of something dying so I surely hope that will not be the case. I would love to glean as much information as possible from you all while I await for the plant to arrive. It states that its being shipped bare root, is not in spike or flower and that it is small.

Any tips, tricks and must knows for me?

Thanks!

[Roberta]

Oncidiums like to be more wet than either Phals or Catts. If it is bare-root and small, sphagnum moss might be a very good medium for potting, or else small bark. You'll need to water it more often than the Catt or the Phals, it needs to never dry out completely (but not stay soggy either... it still needs air around the roots). Oncidiums need less light than Cattleya, perhaps a bit more than Phals depending on plant size. This particular one should do fine in the same temperature range as your Catt - a little more cold-tolerant than the Phals but all of them will also be fine in the Phal range too.

Note that for any of your orchids, don't over-pot. Choose a pot size that will accommodate the roots and a year or two of growth, not more. When it arrives, photos will help us give more specific advice.

[YetAnotherOrchidNut]

Originally Posted by sewagner86

Any tips, tricks and must knows for me?

Besides what Roberta said find bottom heat is very beneficial to oncidiums. Also be careful when handling if there is new root growth as they are much more fragile than phals, the slightest pressure will break them. I use 3-5mm bark with a bit of vermiculite and perlite for mine.

[SADE2020]

Try no to repot at all if is not need it, the repot set it back for a long time

[YetAnotherOrchidNut]

Originally Posted by SADE2020

Try no to repot at all if is not need it, the repot set it back for a long time

FWIW, I haven't found that with mine. But I use bottom heat after I repot.

[sewagner86]

Apparently the plant is coming bare root. What kind of bottom heat are we talking about like a seedling heat mat?

[Roberta]

This one is actually what used to be intergeneric - has some of what used to be Odontontoglossum in it, likely a bit more cold tolerant than many Oncidiums. Everything got lumped into Oncidium so those nuances disappeared. Still, house temperatures are fine... just less concern about needing extra warmth.

[sewagner86]

Thank you for that advice. I can always add heat later if it seems unhappy at all. I am going to invest in a light for them. I have seen orchid hobbyist recommended for that and it appears that it changed to botanical leds. To cover the variety that I have, Which light will work best?

[YetAnotherOrchidNut]

Originally Posted by sewagner86

Apparently the plant is coming bare root. What kind of bottom heat are we talking about like a seedling heat mat?

Yes, that, or grow them on top of a dry radiator. Both work nicely provided you dont skimp on watering. My experience is that I have yet to find a warm weather orchid that doesn't appreciate bottom heat.

I wouldn't put a bare root plants on one but I would repot it and until it established itself I would use bottom heat. I swear by bottom heat in the colder months in amsterdam. Plants that don't like to go below 18 can handle a fair bit lower air temperature if the roots and rhizome are kept warm, it simulates spring.

---------- Post added at 03:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:13 AM ----------

Originally Posted by sewagner86

Thank you for that advice. I can always add heat later if it seems unhappy at all. I am going to invest in a light for them. I have seen orchid hobbyist recommended for that and it appears that it changed to botanical leds. To cover the variety that I have, Which light will work best?

Any quality horticultural grade light will probably do fine. It doesn't have to be the horrible purple things either.

[sewagner86]

My orchids arrived yesterday and even though I blanked and panicked, they look happy this morning! They are all potted and settled in

I received 3 oncidiums because the seller kindly sent 2 more as thank yous. He sent a golden gambol and a Breathless Florence. I have a heat mat on the way (it will be here tomorrow) to sit them on and will be getting lighting to help supplement the sunlight they receive.