Oncidium Brown/yellow roots

[Hultaren]

Hello orchidboard!

As you see, my oncidium have brown/yellow roots that feel "spongy". I feer this is from "over watering". but i only water them with 1-2 weeks in between, and sometimes i let them dry for a while. This didnt feel "okej" because my bulbs is quite wrinkeld. so i even tryed just spraying the roots every week.

So what do i do? as you can hear, I'm quite new.

Thank you in advance

[silken]

Most fine rooted Oncidiums don't like to get completely dry or not for too long. The roots can become discolored a bit from the bark so being brown is not always bad. If they still have any firmness to them, they could still be alive. I see you have some new root growth on a young growth. Quite often the older bulbs do wrinkle. It seems to depend on the type of Onc. in my experience. I have some that only the newest growths are round and smooth and on others they are all plump.

Make sure it is potted in a fairly small pot. Too large and it will stay wet for too long and cause root rot. Give it good drainage and never let it sit in water. You could stick a bamboo kebab skewer in the center of the pot and use that as a gauge to tell when its time to water. Pull it out and if it is wet or cool and damp there is still some moisture. I would water this plant just before it becomes dry.

You could try some KLN, or SuperThrive or some seaweed extract added to your waterings to help stimulate some root growth. But with Oncidiums, usually only the newest growths will grow roots and the rest of the old bulbs will just help support the new growth.

[Hultaren]

The discolored roots is not as firm as the new healthy ones. It could be that it is a too large pot (also its plastic. Maybe i should replant it in a smaler, clay pot, and put some sphagnum moss in there ( i heard its good to mix in)?

I guess i can surrender the hope of a stem growing from my bulb this year

[silken]

I like clear plastic pots because I can see what is going on. You can mix a bit of moss with the bark. I would maybe just use a finer bark by itself. With moss you must be careful not to over-water, but I use it on certain orchids.

It may not spike this year, but you never know. Old roots that aren't hollow or mushy are usually alive, just not actively growing. And the bulbs will support the newer growth. Just give it the best care you can. Sometimes a little warmth at the base will help stimulate root growth too. I find clay is quite cool, but many people like clay and I use them for some orchids. It's all a matter of discovering what works for your situation and I think all of us have lost a plant or more in the process of learning. Yours is far from lost yet! Good luck.

[Hultaren]

Thank you very much for your answer

and while i have you. a couply of my phalaenopsis orchids roots have begun to look like they've "dried out", there is no misscouloring, but they have become wrinkeld. Could it be as simple as that they actualy are drying out?

[silken]

Originally Posted by Hultaren

Thank you very much for your answer

and while i have you. a couply of my phalaenopsis orchids roots have begun to look like they've "dried out", there is no misscouloring, but they have become wrinkeld. Could it be as simple as that they actualy are drying out?

Yes, they could be drying out! Are they on top of the media or within? What type of media are they in. Phals don't like to be dry for very long. I usually flush mine thru with water and let them drain well and then let them get close to dry or dry just for a day before watering again. The kebab skewer works well for them too.

[Hultaren]

They are above the media (that is bark). I felt in the pot now and it seams like its already dry ( waterd them 3 days ago, and i water them every week) maybe i should water them oftner, or spray them in the middle of the week.

[silken]

If it is new bark, its good to soak it for 24 hrs before potting as it does not hold moisture too well for the first few months. So if it was new and especially if it wasn't soaked, you might need to water more often. Run a good amount of water thru or set the pot in a pail of water up to the roots (not the crown) and soak for a couple minutes. Drain very well so it doesn't stand in water afterwards. If there are lots of roots sitting on top you can mist them daily or every few days. Just make sure the centre of the pot is nearly dry before watering again. A little dry is better than too wet in my opinion. also make sure you do not mist water into the crown of the plant as it could develop crown rot.