Leaves curling in on themselves-oncidium

[RobynMarko]

Hello, everyone! I’m a newbie and so excited to be here. Ready to learn all I can about my new favorite flowers!! I recently bought a yellow-flowered oncidium, and the leaves are curling in on themselves..not downward toward the ground but around themselves. The plant has TONS of flowers and seems happy, but this leaf-curling is concerning me. Any help and advice is greatly appreciated!!

[Roberta]

Oncidiums tend to be very thirsty. Possibly it's not getting enough water. It does need more frequent watering than a Phalaenopsis. Don't ever let it go completely dry - water well, wait a couple of days until it is just damp (exact formula depends on the medium and your temperature and humidity), then repeat.

[camille1585]

I agree. How are the bulbs looking? If they are wrinkled looking then the plant has a problem with water uptake. With Oncs the problem is usually underwatering, as people don't dare give too much. But if you have been watering quite heavily, then the other possibility is that the roots are dead/dying.

And welcome to Orchidboard!

[RobynMarko]

Thank you, both, for such quick replies! And thanks for the welcome. I will check the bulbs. Just bought it about a week ago, so I haven’t taken it out of the original container. If the roots look bad, I will post a pic and ask for help again, if that’s ok. Great to be here, thanks again! 😊

---------- Post added at 11:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:52 AM ----------

OMG! Camille!!! I just looked at your photos. Unbelievably gorgeous!!! I can’t wait to have as many as you! Do you sell any of your plants/babies/cuttings?? WOW!!! ❤️

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

I agree it's definitely underwatered. When leaves curl to that extent it may take several weeks of adequate watering for them to uncurl, or they might never uncurl. With proper watering new growth will have normal leaves.

When it's hot and dry in Florida you might need to water an Oncidium every day or two, especially if it's outside on the patio or under a tree.

[RobynMarko]

Thank you. It is on my patio in Florida under an umbrella and I’ve been watering it about 3X a week. I will water every day for awhile to see if that works. Thanks again for your help.

[JScott]

Originally Posted by RobynMarko

Thank you. It is on my patio in Florida under an umbrella and I’ve been watering it about 3X a week. I will water every day for awhile to see if that works. Thanks again for your help.

Summers in Oklahoma are hot and humid, probably similar to yours, and when my plants are outside for the summer, I water my Oncidium types every day. I think that's probably a good plan for you as well.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by RobynMarko

Thank you, both, for such quick replies! And thanks for the welcome. I will check the bulbs. Just bought it about a week ago, so I haven’t taken it out of the original container. If the roots look bad, I will post a pic and ask for help again, if that’s ok. Great to be here, thanks again! 😊

---------- Post added at 11:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:52 AM ----------

OMG! Camille!!! I just looked at your photos. Unbelievably gorgeous!!! I can’t wait to have as many as you! Do you sell any of your plants/babies/cuttings?? WOW!!! ❤️

Looks like you got good advice for watering in your climate, so I don't have more to add to that.

As to my photos, photography is my other big hobby, after orchids. I don't have most of those plants anymore, as I lost most of my collection to disease a few years ago. But I've been slowly rebuilding the collection since then. I don't sell divisions/keikis, I usually give them away to family of friends.

[Ray]

The fact that they are in their original pot and potting medium could suggest bad roots, which will also lead to dehydration. I'd pull the root mass out of the pot and check.

Longer term, have you considered semi-hydroponics? Oncids seem to take to it very well, and it really helps with the watering, without fear of decomposition and root rot.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I’ll add one more possibility to what may have caused this kind of result with the leaf...

It might have been obstructed in some way. If it was, and if it wasn’t corrected, when the leaves mature, it will stay that way.