Brand new yellowing "Twinkle"

[greenpassion]

I just recieved a mini onciduim, "Twinkle" that I ordered on line. It came with many many buds, and a few were opened as well. But, this little guy came to me in what I would consider poorly packaged, as it was cold, and may have been outside my garage for several hours. (I live in Vermont) There was no heat pack. Still and all, the plant looked ok, but maybe a little lighter green than I thought it should be. Now, it's continuing to bloom, but it'd definatly yellowing. I have it with my other orchids on an humidity tray, under LED grow lights, with good air circulation and warmth. I keep my house at around 60 in the winter, with a 55% humidity level as consistantly as I can. Did this little onc. get too cold? Did I over water it? I have watered it twice so far. I've had it about 10 days now....

[WhiteRabbit]

My experience with Twinkle is that they like to dry inbetween waterings - I don't know if that is the issue or not with yours. It could be from the cold - how cold did it get? I haven't grown Twinkle outdoors at all, but a number of my Oncidiums take short periods of cold without ill effects.

gl!

[NYCorchidman]

Post a picture so it's easier to tell what's going on.
With that low humidity, watering twice in the last 10 days is not bad at all. What media is it in?

Regarding yellowing leaves, did it come with some yellowing leaves or has the yellowing started once it came to your house?
Yellowing of leaves from the tip on the older pb is not uncommon on Twinkle.

You mentioned the buds continue to open up at your house, so that is a good sign. It definitely experienced a little bit of stress as your house is maintained at 60, which I belive is much lower than where they came from.
It should have acclamatized by now.

Last, green tone of the leaves differ by variety.
Also, the color you see on the online picture can often be different from the actual color.

I have two different yellow Twinkle. One has light green leaves, the other has very dark green leaves. Both grow in the same area.

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Post a picture so it's easier to tell what's going on.
With that low humidity, watering twice in the last 10 days is not bad at all. What media is it in?

Regarding yellowing leaves, did it come with some yellowing leaves or has the yellowing started once it came to your house?
Yellowing of leaves from the tip on the older pb is not uncommon on Twinkle.

You mentioned the buds continue to open up at your house, so that is a good sign. It definitely experienced a little bit of stress as your house is maintained at 60, which I belive is much lower than where they came from.
It should have acclamatized by now.

Last, green tone of the leaves differ by variety.
Also, the color you see on the online picture can often be different from the actual color.

I have two different yellow Twinkle. One has light green leaves, the other has very dark green leaves. Both grow in the same area.

The twinkle is potted in a bark mix, maybe a touch of moss. It came a very light green, with a hint of yellowing. Not from the tip of the pb. Is 60-62 too cold for oncidiums? It's still blooming, little white blossoms with yellow/orange inside...and not too much added yellow leaves. Maybe this one is just a bright green onc?? Also, when can I move it to S/H culture? I did change two of my other oncidiums, (no idea what variety they are) and the larger one is getting a yellow stripe down the center of the leaf. I'm hoping that it's just getting acclaimated to the change from bark to hydroton... I will post pics when I get the time...

[Leafmite]

Oncidiums were difficult for me until I moved them to large lava rock (and then they all took off). I have a ton of plants, though, giving high humidity, and the house stays cooler in the winter, so the bark never dried in the middle. I'd use the skewer method to make certain that isn't the problem. Yellowing leaves always make me nervous. Good luck,
leafmite

[Zoi2]

The best time to transplant any plant into S/H is when you see new root growth.
Joann

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

The twinkle is potted in a bark mix, maybe a touch of moss. It came a very light green, with a hint of yellowing. Not from the tip of the pb. Is 60-62 too cold for oncidiums? It's still blooming, little white blossoms with yellow/orange inside...and not too much added yellow leaves. Maybe this one is just a bright green onc?? Also, when can I move it to S/H culture? I did change two of my other oncidiums, (no idea what variety they are) and the larger one is getting a yellow stripe down the center of the leaf. I'm hoping that it's just getting acclaimated to the change from bark to hydroton... I will post pics when I get the time...

I don't think bark is a very good media for a small plant like oncidium. Then again, I don't know the size of the bakr chips they are in. Probably ok if it has a hint of moss in it to keep moist. Twinkles should not be dry completely. You will lose flowers and the growth will be stunted. Most Twinkles have light green leaves. Yellowing is part of natural aging process if it gradually yellows from the tip of the leaf, not pb. Yellowing of pb is another issue.

As for temperature, 60ish is too low if that's the day high. While it is flowering now, it is alright. Don't worry, they will grow when the weather warms again next spring.

Transplanting is best done when plants are in growth cycle. Now is not a good time one because it is in flower, two because it is too cold to grow in your condition. I recommend that you wait until the warm weather comes and you see it shooting up new growths.