Oncidium potted in dirt?

[Ridley Ann]

I recently picked up this Oncidium Sweet Sugar at a big box store and although it’s obviously doing very well with its huge flower spike and new growths it looks like it’s potted in mostly dirt. Is this ok?

[Roberta]

What looks like dirt is probably a peat mix that some commercial growers use. Since it shows no sign of distress, I suggest that you leave it alone while it is in bloom. Once it finishes, you can repot into a mix that fits better into your watering regimen. Just strive to keep it on the moist side, but not sopping wet - you can stick your finger down into the mix... if it feels damp wait another day or two to water, if it feels dry, then water. These don't like to dry out completely.

[aliceinwl]

I agree that it’s a peat mix. Maybe you’ll have better luck, but I’ve tried to keep some of my Oncidium types in this until they finish blooming and no matter how careful I am watering I end up with total root death by the time the plant finishes blooming.

Now, I repot any that I buy in this mix as soon as I get them home. If the plant is healthy it rarely blasts the buds and there is no lengthy convalescence while it regrows its roots.

[Ray]

Personally, I'd be very delicate in my watering habits - trickling enough water to moisten, but not soak the medium - until it was finished blooming. Then I'd repot fit into my normal medium.

[Ridley Ann]

Thank you! I live in southern FL so it is incredibly humid this time of year so I may just really pay attention to how wet it feels and then after it’s done blooming I’ll repot it into something more suitable for this orchid. It’s still got a lot of buds and some spikes that haven’t fully developed yet so I would hate to ruin all of that if I repot it now.

---------- Post added at 11:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:15 AM ----------

Any suggestions as to what I should use as my medium? Usually I just do a mixture of moss and bark. I have another Oncidium that I’ll probably do at the same time. I’ve been told that they like to be in smaller pots?

[aliceinwl]

I grow in coastal California so my conditions are different, but I’ve found this type of Oncidium really likes to hang. I take a Vanda basket and put shade cloth on the interior and fill with small grade orchiata. I’ll usually zip tie a bamboo skewer across and cut it to fit to keep the plant from moving until its roots take hold.

Maybe given your warmer conditions you’ll have better luck keeping the roots alive in the peat mix. I’ve tried being super careful with water to no avail. If you see any pseubulb wrinkling, I’d repot immediately.