Help! New Member with LOTS of Questions

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by PleuroPal

Hi Izzie,

I agree with King regarding the phal. Just water it a little more often - and you might lightly mist the arial roots every day or so. Of course you know about not letting water sit in the crown.

As for the oncidium, it has definitely experienced dehydration at some point - hence the wrinkly p-bulbs and accordion leaves. That will never go away now and will always serve as a constant reminder of that period of time that it didn't get enough water/humidity. If you've been watering it once a week, I would go to twice a week. You'll know you've hit the right balance when new p-bulbs and leaves finally appear and remain plump and smooth. If there's any way to increase the humidity in its environment, that would defiitely help too.

Just thought I'd let you guys know. I unpotted the rescue yesterday- completely rotted except for the aerial roots. Augh!
Rinsed it off, dipped it in clorox solution, and then soaked in superthrive before bagging it with a wet paper towel.

Ray- I'm actually relieved to hear that the bulbs will always stay that way once that happens. I've been thinking that they haven't been improving despite my efforts, since I was expecting them to plump back up. I'll keep an eye on the new growth.
eta: I'm also relieved because it was that way when I saved it a year or so ago, so at least I wasn't the one to let it get that far!

What I'm worried about now is my Onc. 'Twinkle' that I posted in the Miniatures Show and Tell. She came with black speckles on the tips of the leaves, but I think they are spreading down. Some have told me to ignore it, but I'm not so sure.