Ron's Rippling Delight pseudobulbs wrinkled

[Benjlan]

Hi Everyone,

My Oncidium that I purchased not long ago is having some problems. The pseudobulb is wrinkled and way longer than any of my others. The leaf coming from it is very large and is bendind the whole thing over. Right now it's in bloom and looking awesome less that on pseudobulb. Should I stake it up, cut the leaf or deal with it until it stops blooming.

Thanks
Ben

[campchi]

Looks like the roots are rotting, which explain why the bulb is wrinkle

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[estación seca]

Hi Ben, Welcome to the Orchid Board!

I have a Ron's Rippling Delight. Oncidiums use a lot of water, and they are accustomed to fairly high humidity. In a home, with low humidity, they may evaporate more water than is available at the roots. If this happens the pseudobulbs wrinkle.

I wasn't able to let my Oncidiums go dry between waterings when they were in the house, or they suffered, and wrinkled. So, over time, I kept them wetter and wetter. I now keep them so moist ferns are growing in the medium. I have never had root rot problems, but other people do when keeping them this wet.

I can't see the roots on your plant. If you haven't had it more than a week or three, I doubt the roots are dead, or the flowers wouldn't look good. Gently uncover some of the roots and see what they look like. Healthy Oncidium roots are white or tan, may have green growing tips, and they are firm, never mushy.

My guess would be not enough water coupled with low humidity indoors with winter heating.

If the roots die, you wind up with the same problem, because the plant can't get enough water.

[Benjlan]

I can take it out of the ceramic pot and it is in a plastic pot inside. The ceramic is purely for stability. I see real good healthy roots with little potting media. She is certainly root bond.

Maybe repot with bark and sphagnum moss with a little charcoal?

[estación seca]

I would wait to repot until it finishes blooming. That will give you time to read some more and decide what you want to do.

[silken]

I agree that I have been keeping my Oncidiums wetter than I used to and they seem to like it. But I have also been trying a bit chunkier medium which hasn't hurt them at all. I use pots that have good drainage and aeration. I would wait till the bloom is done and preferably till you see new roots developing. But I know with new acquisitions, it is often a good plan to re-pot because existing media is not ideal.