Oncidium back bulbs

[Bribri]

Hi all,

I have oncidium back bulbs and was hoping to get some new growths from it. As in the picture, I replanted it in a bark and sphagnum mix. Roots are healthy but the bulbs seem a bit dark green fading into light green yellow-brown color. Is that a normal color for bulbs? As I am reading through threads, should I have this in a sphag bag or is my set up acceptable? If I do sphag in a bag, would the dampness cause rot?

[WhiteRabbit]

Are these still connected together on the rhizome? If so, and if there are good roots, I think how you have them should be fine. The pbulbs look ok to me, tho I'd get those two in the front pulled up a bit out of the media. I don't know whether or not they are likely to do anything

Hopefully others can chime in!

[Bribri]

Thanks for the suggestion Whiterabbit, I pulled the bulbs up out of the media. All three bulbs are still connected. I'm currently watering every week with the rest of plants (when media is dry) so I'm hoping with TLC it will survive. This orchid growing hobby is also a test of patience, which I seem to have little of lol.

Thanks for answering my questions...a lot pop into my mind for every little thing.

[james mickelso]

Better idea for these. Get a small shallow Tupperware tray and put about 6 layers of paper towels in the bottom or some sphagnum moss. Dampen the towels or moss and lay these on top with the lid on but not tight. Just laid on top. Keep in normal oncid light and keep the moss/towels just damp. If you want (what I do) spray the media with a fungicide. Keep this up and after awhile the pbulbs will put out some new growth. Old pbulbs have enough stored energy to put out new growth without much effort on our part. I have put them in small plastic pots in the shade and they have put out new growth. Warmth and some moisture is all that is required. Takes awhile though. Patience. Potted the way you have them invites fungus/mold/bacterial rot. These won't regrow roots but can and usually do push growth from their dormant eyes.

[Bribri]

Very cool. I did as you suggested with the damp paper towels and tupperware. I'm crossing my fingers. My mother told me the plant had put out beautiful deep pink flowers so hopefully one day the growth will do so again.

[Dan796]

I can see from your picture that the front and back two bulbs (I can't see the one on it's side) are browning at the bottom of the bulbs.
I'm sorry to say, this is usually a sign that the bulbs are dying from the root up. And too late to do anything to help them. Lost many that way myself until I learned to do things differently.

I now always treat my bulbs with Neem oil or Rose and garden systemic spray for fungi or bacteria then wait 10 days to 14 days before I plant them so the cuts have a chance to heal after being removed from the mother plant.
I plant them after the waiting period,and I then start lightly spraying water on my back bulbs once a day.
I Only spray the bulbs and the top of the medium enough to keep the bulbs from dehydrating, and encourage new root development and until I see new green root tips appear. Spray just enough water so that the bulbs are dry again within a few hours to discourage fungus or bacteria bloom..
I continue lightly spraying once a day until the roots are about 1" or more long, Then I water the bulbs and medium normally.. Very simple and easy once you get the hang of it.
.

[orchidsarefun]

not sure if you did so, but you need to separate your clump into 3 separate bulbs. If you don't, you are likely to only get growth from the latest/newest bulb. I have used the method described by James and never had any problems. Trick is to stand them upright on a thin layer of moss kept slightly moist. I used individual pots.

[Bribri]

Thanks everyone. The one bulb up top seems to be getting browner so I'm thinking its dead-ish. I still have them clumped together and the roots are attached to the bulbs. Should I remove the roots? I currently have it in Tupperware on damp paper towels.

[Bribri]

I'm trying to learn more about backbulbs and just found an interesting site others may find helpful:

Orchid backbulbs