Trt Ollie Palmer care

[sewagner86]

I got a Trt Ollie Palmer for free due to waiting forever for an order. I wasn't prepared for one and know nothing about it. I tried searching for information and it's not much out there. I was hoping you all can help. Tell me what you know about them and their care. When is a good time to repot? I have managed to keep it alive thus far, but I want to make sure I a m doing right by it.

Thanks!

[Roberta]

This is a Trichocentrum. They used to be called "mule-ear Oncidiums" but are now a separate genus. Most are relatively warm-growers, bright shade or filtered sun. Like other Oncidiums, they like to be on the damp side, don't let it dry out. Photos that I found of it indicate that when it blooms, it will be gorgeous!

For the record, it's 1/2 Trt. haematochilum, 1/4 Trt. landeanum, and 1/4 Trt. carthagenense . It defnitely wants to be fairly warm. I'd say Phaelanopsis temperatures, but more light and more water.

[sewagner86]

I keep it with my cattleyas and it seems pretty content there.when I got it, I was a little upset cus I was like dang it....some other weird orchid I need to learn about and it probably needs something off the wall, but it has seemed ok so far. The Temps it stay in are 70 at night and 80 day time. My next question is when to replant? Are the toots going to justdie if i mess with them like cattleyas? The new grows are kind of stacking and I am unsure if I should continue as is or repot?

[Roberta]

Repot. Gently (you don't want to break those lovely new green root tips). Don't worry about removing old medium, just shake off what falls easily. (It looks like there'a plastic pot under your decorative pot.. you can cut it to facilitate gettting the plant out of the pot(

[sewagner86]

It's in some weird compostable or biodegradable pots. A friend gave me a psychopsis that is also in the same type of pot and that one is kind of coming apart so I am not a huge fan of it.....so I will be absolutely ok to cut this pot apart to get the plant out of it. Thanks for the advice! That's going to be tomorrow's project.....I have been working slowly to repot some that have needed it.