please help any one!! this oncid barley making it!

[victoriam]

my oncidi took it right out of the pot i removed the dead psudobulb that turned black i just unpotted it and so many roots just broke right off AND one part is dead but i dont want to remove - i had this posted in medium bark in a proper ported pot but some of the original MOSS potting media was wrapped in the insides of the main roots! I have it in a glass see photos and dont know what do do. i originally bought this for my mom for x mas 07 hoping she would make it to enjoy it but she passed a week later i took one bloom off of to give it to her to be cremated with and promised her i would never let it die, someone please help i could'nt bear to lose this!!!

[trdyl]

It really needs to get potted up a bark mx would probably be best. I am not an oncidium person but the dead portion needs to be removed. By leaving it on you are asking for trouble with the healthy portion. To help to keep from breaking roots off during potting let the white roots soak in water for about 5 minutes. The should be more pliable and green. If any feel squishy after soaking cut them off.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I'll go one step further.

Just get rid of the plant material in the back and save the lead growths with the new white roots underneath. The old parts to get rid of have no viable roots underneath.

Pot the new leads with the new roots in a pot with medium grade bark (don't use large grade).

Remember to use a pot that fits the size of the root mass.

A clear plastic pot could give you and the plant an advantage. The clear plastic pot allows you to see what's happening in the root zone, and it allows the plant's roots to photosynthesize.

Wetting the roots does make them a bit more pliable as Ted mentioned.

[victoriam]

thanks so much basically all the roots should be cut off then- what about the remaining psudobulb? thx

[quiltergal]

The old pbulbs are dead as are the roots under them. Cut the old bulbs off and toss them. You risk black rot if you leave them on. The new growths will be OK without them but you'll have to keep a vigilant eye after repotting to make sure the plant doesn't get too much or too little water. It won't have the old pbulbs to fall back on, so there's not much room for error. Good luck!

[victoriam]

thanks so much i will unpot it and just keep the live growth and live white roots and should i plant the lice roots under the media> thanks so much

[quiltergal]

Yes the roots need to be under the media.

[victoriam]

they simply wont reach after repotting though as they are coming out of the side of the new growth- i was told to keep the living psud attached and if i went any deeper it would bury half the plant - i hope i am not on a dead end with this abnomaly!

[gixrj18]

Originally Posted by victoriam

they simply wont reach after repotting though as they are coming out of the side of the new growth- i was told to keep the living psud attached and if i went any deeper it would bury half the plant - i hope i am not on a dead end with this abnomaly!

In this case, just slightly bury the roots....they will find their way into the media searching for water. You don't really want to bury the p-bulbs, so just tie it to a stake to hold it still until it roots.