Oncidium roots

[Thomas orchid lover]

I have an oncidium sherry baby, which constantly has slightly shriveled pseudobulbs.

It has plenty of roots. I water every week or so.

My question is, is it normal to have this or should I change my watering intervals

[WhiteRabbit]

Older pbulbs will wrinkle somewhat as they age, support new growth. Are you able to post a photo so we can see their condition? Does new growth grow in smooth, or is it crimped/horizontally pleated? Pleated new growth is a sign of either insufficient water or conversely, sign of roots rotted from over-watering - tho I don't think watering once a week or so would be too much. My Sharry Baby seems to like a fair amount of water. In winter, once a week or so is ok, but at least twice a week now, and possibly more in summer. What type of media is it potted in?

[Pilot]

My new bulbs are not wrinkled but I have leaves that appear pleated. Have you tried growing it in sh? Mine grows in sh now and is quite vigorous having done so.

[NYCorchidman]

I have sharry baby, the super large orginal type I guess.
Anyways, oncidium types seem to develop these wrinkles on pbs once they are brought into home where the air is much drier than the nursery they came from.

My experience is that these wrinkles won't go away once established. As long as you water them good, these plants grow and flower just fine. If wrinkles are severe though, I recommend soaking them in water for half an hour every time you water. This should help perk up the pbs a bit for certain plants.

Ryan, the pleating on the leaves...
If they are form across the leaves, it's a sign of underwatering. If they are formed along the veins of the leaves, they are just normal for some sharry baby plants. Mine is that way. Every single leaves pretty much. I think they look exotic that way.

[camille1585]

I don't have a Sharry Baby, but several other Oncs. Old bulbs very often have some wrinkles, as explained above. The newest bulb is a good indicator though, if that one stays plump, everything is good.
I don't know what sort of medium yours is potted in, but we have similar climates (though I don't think Belgium got the heat wave last week) and I'm watering Ons (in bark) twice a week.

[Thomas orchid lover]

Thank you

It is potted in clay pebbles which I read was one of the best for orchids since I cant get my hands on a proper orchid medium.

the new bulb is smooth. I think I worry a bit too much sometimes I will start watering twice a week. Mabe it will go away or mabe not.

[tucker85]

Oncidiums tend to need a little more water than other orchids with psuedobulbs, like cattleya. Since clay pellets dry very quickly, I think that watering once a week is probably not enough. I would increase that to about twice a week and see how that works.

[camille1585]

In the clay pellets I wouldn't be surprised if it needs watering even 3 times a week, it dries fast. But see how it goes with twice a week first!

[Bud]

since it is already in clay pellets...why not do the S/H method?

[lepetitmartien]

Active oncidiums love water, to modulate with temperatures. Even mine (about the same hybrid) with plenty available (for a not S/H potted lot, for now) is showing wrinkles after the last hot days we have had just now.