Alcra. Sunday Best 'Pink Skirt'

[cabnc]

Aliceara Sunday Best 'Pink Skirt' is (Brassidium Gilded Urchin x Miltonia spectabilis, 1981).

I found these four plants at Lowe's today. The garden manager let me remove one from it's pot. Most of the floers were spent and they were being discounted from $25 down to $10. After she saw it was mostly spag in the pot and only a little plant root ball, we settled on $3 each

They came in a 6" plastic pot nested in a 6.5" clay pot. As you can see, after removing all of the new spag on the first, the plant root ball is only about 3". But surprise -- an ID tag was hidden !!

The second and third pots contained two plant each. Their root balls had been tightly squeezed together to appear to be one large plant -- but that's OK ! -- two for the price of one !!!

Each plant already has new growths started and good roots.

The fourth plant has a few flowers, so will pull it apart later this weekend.

Question ?? Two of the root balls are really tightly packed, roots twisted together. Would it be better to leave them alone and just repot ? Or should I try to untangle the roots ???

Charlie

[Jim]

I bought the same plant. The one I purchased completely filled the pot so I thought $25.00 was a steal. After I read your post I uprooted mine to find 2 plants crammed into the 6" plastic pot each with it's own tag. Considering the beauty of the flowers and quantity of pseudobulbs I know I got a great deal. Now they have new separate 6" clay homes. Thanks for the post.

[Jim]

Sorry, I didn't answer your question but being you asked it in August I assume you have already done something. I only grow the Oncidium Alliance and I have potted a lot of them in slightly larger pots and they do great. Many of them I just "gently" pulled the roots apart. They seem to have a desire to grow that amazes me. I avoid wet or dry just a good soaking and a slight drying out and things go smoothly.

[Jim]

Still getting used to this venue, I got your post date wrong. I would still go by my other comment and repot. Of all the plants I have grown none are as reseliant as Oncidiums. I plant mine slightly high but that is because I like the look of exposed air roots, kind of a bonsai thing. I try to imagine them struggling yet striving on a tree branch. I find they look best between striving and surviving. Look for the balance of shrinking and swelling pseudobulbs. Enjoy the leaf structure when not in bloom. Even the vellum of the roots looks attractive as it changes color when wet and dry. Basically, relax and enjoy the hobby.