Oncidium Gower Ramsey - Orchid Board

EDDIE · #1 10-20-2011, 06:38 PM

Hey guys,

Bought this a couple of days ago at Lowe's....it is in spagnum and in spike as well! Thought about repotting, but how in the world do I repot this thing when it has a vertical pb??? I know that the oldest growth goes to the back of the pot, just wasn't sure whether to repot the same way it is now, but just in a slightly bigger pot...

As always, thanks for any suggestions!

Eddie

tucker85 · #2 10-20-2011, 07:53 PM

Personally I would let it bloom before repotting. Since there's plenty of aerial roots you don't have to worry about root rot so much. My favorite tool for potting tall orchids is a ring stake. Here's a picture of one of my orchids with a ring stake. The smallest ring stakes are the ones that work best even for tall plants. I think they're 6". The one in the picture will work on plastic or clay. Attach the stake to the pot first then add some medium and lower the plant through the top and fill in the rest of the medium. Don't be afraid to bend the stake any way you want to get the plant right. I usually use a rhizome clip to hold the plant in place if needed. And yes, I think a slightly larger pot would work well. Good luck.

dounoharm · #3 10-20-2011, 07:54 PM

oldest growth to the outer edge of the pot, right.....and a slightly larger pot than it is in, tuck those roots in good and let er rip! gl

EDDIE · #4 10-20-2011, 10:12 PM

Thanks guys, one other question: the pb that is up in the air, should I leave it like that when and if I repot, or should I try to set it just on top of the medium? Wouldn't that cause the existing pb's to be burried in the potting medium, and couldn't cause them to rot?

Paul · #5 10-20-2011, 10:31 PM

I had one of those years ago. Nice cheery yellow flowers. Got rid of it despite that, though. Sucker was just too big for my growing space.

NYCorchidman · #6 11-14-2011, 08:30 PM

This is the thing about oncidium. They tend to hike up as they grow over the years. If you can, mount the whole thing. Or plant them in a larger pot and leave it there for a few years until they walk out of the pot. Then split into smaller sections, then pot them up individually.

You can try planting it slanted so the roots of the new pb are closer to the medium, which is what I did with my Onc. Sweet Sugar Million Dollar. It may look funny at first, but as they grow new pb, it will adjust as long as you don't mind the way it look in the beginning.