Help with my Oincidium

[Bellybear14]

Hello Everyone,

I have been growing phal. orchids and paphs. for some time now and recently was gifted my first Oincidium plant purchased at Lowe's or something similar. The plant bloomed for about a month and has stopped flowering now. The pseudo bulbs were rather wrinkled when I got it and wonder if anyone can tell me what to do at this point with the plant.

Should I replant (if so in which medium, I have fine and large bark)? Does it need humidity care? The leaves are supple,green and seem fine.

Thank you!

[Sharry]

Bear:

While I am not an expert, I have raised a number of oncidium types successfully. After phals, I find them the easiest category to care for. The first thing is to check the roots. It is really easy to over-water Onc species if they are potted in sphagnum moss. If the roots are bad, i would repot and put it in a shady place and only mist the plant until new growths appear.

[WhiteRabbit]

Fine bark mix should be good. Water before the mix is completely dry.

[james mickelso]

This oncid is resting. Let it stay on the dry side until it throws new growth from the youngest pbulb. Not bone dry but barely damp. Be careful as oncid roots rot easily. That is because they are so fine and numerous the inner root mass stays wet when we think the root mass is dry. If you can wait, I would pot when there is active new growth pushing up from the base of the youngest pbulbs. Oncids and their cousins don't like their roots to be disturbed unless it is necessary. Repot at the wrong time and it will set the plant back. Be careful of overwatering especially if planted in sphagnum moss. When you do repot make sure you put something under the center mass of roots where it will stay wet the longest. As Sonya said, use a small bark. I use larger bark mix but that is because I like to water more than most. But I also know exactly when it needs water.

[dendro king]

Use fine bark and keep moist. The older bulbs normally shrivel anyway but keep the roots moist at all times is what works best for me. Just my 2¢

[james mickelso]

This is such a good example of knowing where someone lives. Use fine bark and keep moist. That is good advice but as an example what if this Bellybear14 lives in Louisiana or Florida where the media will stay wet for a long time which may induce brown rot or other root rot critters? Or maybe they live in New Mexico where it might be difficult to keep it moist and they need to be told to water every day. Until the new growth gets roots, I would keep it just damp to be on the safe side.