Oncidium Sweet Sugar

[(..._...)]

It looks like a flower spike to me!

Normally older pseudobulbs begin to wrinkle. I find some oncidiums are more prone to wrinkling than others. Also,when mine are approaching dryness, the pseudobulbs wrinkle, and then plump up a few hours after watering (although you can still see creases).

Cam

Originally Posted by RosieC

While watering today I've spotted something.

Is this a new 'lead growth' or a new spike? (Click on the pic to enlarge).



Also the p-bulbs are all quite wrinkled like the one showing. They are quite firm, just wrinkled. Is this OK? I'm new to these so don't really know what to expect and I've heard some in this alliance will normally be wrinkled.

Oh and I know the medium looks really wet in this pic, but I took the pic in the middle of watering it and it and drained it soon after.

[RosieC]

Thanks Cam.

My thought was spike as well but I've never seen one on this alliance so was unsure.

It did not seem to plump up last time I watered it (I've not had it long). I kind of get the impression it's OK, but again I'm very inexperienced with this alliance.

[(..._...)]

With me though, whenever I buy a new orchid, I ALWAYS loose all of the present root system. My guess is the change in watering schedual and growing environment. So I always see wrinkling. lol.

Also, I find that the newest pseudobulbs don't wrinkle at all until a few months after they have developed, but once they form, you can't completely get rid of them. I guess its kind of like folding a paper, and then trying to completely get rid of the crease.

I personally love oncs, and find them easy to grow. I don't have your exact one, but I have heard it is not difficult to grow. Good luck!

Originally Posted by RosieC

Thanks Cam.

My thought was spike as well but I've never seen one on this alliance so was unsure.

It did not seem to plump up last time I watered it (I've not had it long). I kind of get the impression it's OK, but again I'm very inexperienced with this alliance.

[Blueszz]

Rosie, this must be a new spike, as new growths form under the brown small leaves on the bottom of the pb. Last year I bought a Sweet Sugar that had severy wrinkled bubls. During the summer these old wrinkled bulbs plumped up. After it bloomed I repotted in a more airy medium and that allowed me to water more often.
Even when in bloom they can take a short time a being dry, so if you feel uncomfortable about watering keep it on the dry side, but not bone dry.
Sometimes while they bloom one or more pb start to grow, or short after the flowers fade. When these start their own roots it's a great time to repot.
Nicole

[got ants]

Rosie, when I got into oncidiums, I kept losing them to root rot. It seems every grower has them in spagnum moss ball and phal mix. I've learned to strip them cleam immediately and put them in a mix of coconut, bark, charcoal, and lica balls. Now I only repot when they bet too big for the pot they are in.

When I pulled out my sweet suger to repot (second time) the roots were phenominal.

Not sure what type of mix is available to you so here is a pic of the mix I buy from broward orchid supply..

[got ants]

Additionally, when I repot, I use a mix of root hormone and fertilizer. I just use it to wash them thru. Be sure to pack them (the roots) good and tight.

[Packer grower]

Rosie with my limited knowledge, this looks like a new growth. I have several oncidiums and the new growths all look this way.

[Femme]

I am pretty sure it is a spike

[RosieC]

Thanks everyone. I hope it keeps growing, my first miltoniopsis had a new growth when I got it which never did anything.