Newb Oncidium Potting Medium Question

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Devogenes

@Ray I would personally rather not use sphagnum given the manner in which it is acquired. I think I would prefer to use wood chips, which seems generally considered acceptable and which would correspond with what I'm doing with the phals which would make things simpler for me as I learn.

Using bark chips to "standardize" may be a reasonably good idea, but oncidiums and phalaenopsis have different cultural needs, so what you are finding to be an acceptable pot/medium/attention level combination for one, might not be great for the other.

I wouldn't say that I'm "limited" to once-per-week watering, though it does seem to be more or less the consensus from what I have read that is an appropriate amount for most orchids in pots.

What has "consensus" got to do with this? Please reread my previous post - just because others find that to be an acceptable approach to growing, that has no bearing on what your approach requires, because your conditions are likely different.

Also, please appreciate that the needs of individual orchids vary all over the map - even if you grew only phalaenopsis or only oncidiums, you'd find that not all of them require the same culture.

With all of that seeming admonition, I will say that you are on the start of a decent approach. You like bark, and have something of a regular watering regimen that seems to be working for your phals. If you decide to do the same with the oncidium, be very observant, so you can make adjustments, as needed.

One last comment: if the plant has been growing in a medium that is that different from bark, its roots will not function well in the bark medium, and the plant will need to grow new roots that will. If the plant is not currently putting out new growths, and you feel a need to transplant it now (in my opinion, that sounds like a good idea, based upon your earlier description), you're going to need to "baby" it a bit, keeping it in a very high humidity environment, so it won't desiccate before it resumes having water uptake capabilities again.

(Please check your PMs)