Oncidium Pacific Sunrise Hakalau

[MattWoelfsen]

This is a re-bloom. I bought this plant from New Vision Orchids, Russ Vernon is the owner, a year ago, 05/05/13. It was in a small 3" pot, and like everyone else has done, re-potted it. It responded by dropping leaves, shriveling p-bulbs, and generally declined through summer. It was still showing decline through autumn and into winter. About the end of January of this year, I was pulling off yellow leaves from this plant, thinking it would eventually die, when I noticed it had a spike. From January, into February, March, April, and May this spike grew branches and buds. I did not stake it, just to see how it would look. This past Monday, several buds opened, and by today they all opened. It is hard to count, but there are over 30 blossoms. These blossoms are slightly fragrant--being more so at dusk.

Lessons learned: 1. Do not be quick to re-pot a newly acquired plant. It will respond to the new potting media, its new home, by declining. 2. Oncidium are hardy and will adapt to its new environment, one change at a time. 3. Oncidium will respond to stability and good growing conditions by flowering.


Oncidium Pacific Sunrise Hakalau by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr


Oncidium Pacific Sunrise Hakalau by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

This photo shows leaf tip decline. Although you can't see it but this plant also has accordion leaves, signs of poor watering--I gave this plant plenty of water but unfortunately the new planting material was competing with the plant to absorb water.


Oncidium Pacific Sunrise Hakalau by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

Close up of the flowers.


Oncidium Pacific Sunrise Hakalau by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

[Ferns Daddy]

I like the looks of it, I just posted pictures of mine its not as full as yours but I hope it get like yours

[NYCorchidman]

I love this plant. I can just smell the fragrance!

BTW, the leaves are not due to your repotting.
They are being damaged by fungal diseases, which oncidiums seem to be very sensitive to.

The most common negative results with repotting, if roots are badly disturbed, will be the pb shrinking, which is not a big deal usually other than looking not so pretty.

[WhiteRabbit]

Lovely

[RosieC]

Wonderful colours. Great work on the rebloom.

[silken]

Congrats on re-blooming it. Love the colours.

[kimstwin]

This is a beautiful plant! Love the color of the blooms!

[MattWoelfsen]

Thank you all for your kind comments. The blooms are now turning brownish but the flowers are still fragrant. It is getting warmer and more humid outside so the plant is really perking up and starting new growth and roots.

[Brenda Aarts]

Lessons learned: 1. Do not be quick to re-pot a newly acquired plant. It will respond to the new potting media, its new home, by declining.
[/QUOTE]

Beautiful plant, congratulations.

I think your lesson 1 could Start a big long debate. I for one repot most plants that I acquire upon bringing home...regardless of what type of orchid. I am far more familiar with how to water and care for my plants when they are in my potting media. I also like to check the root system and make sure there are no extra creatures. In particular for me, Orchids in tight spag are instant death unless I repot....

I find quite often after the repot they will shoot out new roots.j

Just my thoughts. Keep up the good work.

[lotis146]

Nice work!

I beat my Heaven Scent up with neglect a bit before I finally repotted it and discovered a large and largely rotted root system. Since the repot its been outside most of the time and the developing spike still bloomed, the other one was still developing last I checked). I had heard Oncids don't like repotting so I've been happy not to see negative results so far.

It seems like knowing when to repot can be a tricky decision, most especially if you're fairly new to the game. Repotting in spike/bud/bloom makes me nervous but I have done it a few times without any real consequences. Then again I've not necessarily repotted immediately. It would seem to me it would be really important for plants to have a chance to get used to their new environments without also having to get used to root disturbance and new medium.