wrinkled pseudobulbs on oncidium... - Orchid Board

edytka · #1 11-06-2013, 06:10 PM

Hi everyone Im new to the orchid board , but i have heared a lot of positive things about it. Im totaly In love with orchids.. and it all started from my boyfriend buying me one... and now i have a full greenhouse

Recently i got the sharry baby fragranced... i ordered it online and was not happy when it came... the leaves were not looking too good , i repoted it in a bigger pot. Since it was stock in a tiny pot with nothing but just roots... Today i knowticed however that the bulbs are becoming wrinkled up... PLEASE HELP, what do i do. I also got an oncm. Golden red star ,from home depot. It came in spaghnum moss but i repoted it into bark n spaghnum and into a plastic pot. It aslo started to get wrinkled bulbs... why. Both are oncidiums.

SlipperGirl · #2 11-06-2013, 06:13 PM

Could you post pictures? Also some care info would help

My first thought is that its not getting enough or to much water

edytka · #3 11-06-2013, 09:57 PM

Thank you hannah for the info. Yes i will post pictures. But you see since i just got those beautys im not sure if they are underwater or overwatered. How could i check ??

TOMMYMIAMI · #4 11-06-2013, 10:15 PM

Hi Editka
since you are new, you will have to post some 5 times at least to be able to download some pictures. However, if the pbulbs are getting wrinkled, it is probably really the sign of under watering. First of all, how often and how do you water? Check this video or just search for more videos on how to water oncidiums:

Orchid care: Watering Oncidiums. - YouTube

Also, to be able to check if you water correctly, you should repot your oncidiums to clear plastic pots, which allows you to see the roots and check on their condition. This way you can prevent any rot and you can see when roots are dehydrated/dry. If you repoted your oncidiums recently, did you soak your bark overnight in the water? If no, than your medium will take some time to hold water, and you must water more often now, till it will be able to keep absorbed water inside. When you water now, do not let the water run only for few minutes, I would recommend to soak the whole pot for some 15-20min. I hope this helps.

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Also, most orchids in general does not like big pots! It is very easy to over pot your orchids, and this way there will be too much medium, holding too much water for too long and your roots will be in danger! Many orchids like to be in smaller pots, even when you may think it is small for your plant, it is actually correct. Not sure what size pots you used, but bigger is not better in orchid world:-)

RandomGemini · #5 11-06-2013, 10:35 PM

It's especially easy to over pot oncidiums as they REALLY like a tight pot. I have an oncidium with 3 bulbs on it. I have it a 4 inch pot. I won't move it to a larger pot until the roots are crawling over the sides of the one its in.

edytka · #6 11-06-2013, 11:27 PM

TommyMiami thankk you so much for the info.super helpfull. I got the oncidiums just about a week ago . The golden red star was in sphagnum moss n it was super wet . So i repoted it wit bark n sphagnum in plastic pot 6". Now i know it was a mistake thou

i will repot it tomorrow. I watered it today under sink . Since im not sure if its underwatered or overwatered ;/ the sharry baby i orderd and it came in a tinny pot wit nothing inside... few leaves are a little damage. One is wrinkled up and the other is split .. i will make a pic . I was very unhappy with it but had no heart to ship it back... i also repoted the sharry baby as idid the golden red star . I watered both of them today. Im growing them under t5 tubes in a home greenhouse... so im rely not sure whats wrong with my new babys...

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Randomgemini thank you

i will repot my two beautys in a smaller pot. You guys are great

TOMMYMIAMI · #7 11-06-2013, 11:38 PM

I really think it is under water, new medium that does not hold water well yet. I would not use sphagnum at all, I had problems wit over watering oncidiums for a years till I switch mine to tree fern chunks, and they do grow extremely well, but I have small one, similar to sharry baby, and that one is in small 4 inch plastic pot and medium bark doing great! As RandomGemini wrote, they love to be more under potted than over potted! And if you can, use clear plastic pots, this way you can check the roots, when you are starting, it is great help, I wish I would joined this board and knew about these things some 5 years ago when I started! With experience you will get better. If you are planning to re pot them, soak some bark overnight and than use for potting, when you soak it, it will be holding water much better and you will not need to water so often. I water mine in bark every cca 5-7 days or so, watching the bulbs, making sure they are nice and filled. Also, remember, smaller pot means the roots will suck water faster, not stay in soggy medium for too long, so it is good and watering can be regular!

TOMMYMIAMI · #8 11-06-2013, 11:43 PM

Just attaching few pics, one of mine, I always watch pbulbs and keep them nice filled, like these. But, do remember, the one pbulb that is with spike may look more shrank than others - spike sucks much more of it, so no worry about it too much, as far as other bulbs look good to you:-) Sometimes you need to soak the whole pot like in that video for some time to let the bulbs drink and fill up with water.

edytka · #9 11-06-2013, 11:55 PM

So you guys think i should repot in small pots and water frequently?? How should healthy roots look like ?? Mine are white..and all the bulbs are wrinkled not only one...

TOMMYMIAMI · #10 11-07-2013, 12:07 AM

Edytka, you should definitely re pot to smaller, but we would have to see your plant on the pics to tell you exactly. Regarding watering, that is something you have to watch and learn, too often will kill the roots, they will rot, not enough - they will dry and your bulbs shrink. Also, different growing conditions need different care. If you did pot them into 6", it may be too big of the pot. I would go for smaller, and clear plastic so you can see the roots. White color - it may be they are dry, that's why they look white, when you water them they should turn green:-)

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I think you can post one more thread here and than you will be allowed to post some pics:-)