repotting oncidium in bloom with new growth
 

Hi. I have a root bound oncidium in bloom, with new spikes emerging (sherry baby). I just noticed some new growth that may be bulbs emerging. Should I wait for all the blooms to fade before repotting? Also, I can't tell what type of potting mix it's in. I'd have to remove the orchid to find out what it's in. Seems like it may be a course material like hay with dirt on top. What should I repot it in. Should I attempt to put it n s/h? BTW I have a long history of overwatering. Thanks Mo

Don't repot it until it's completely finished blooming. It sounds like it's potted in junk, I'd repot it into a rock, charcoal and bark mix with some styrofoam on the bottom.

The ideal time to repot oncids is after the new growth has roots about an inch long. This is the optimal time. Oncids don't like to be repotted and this ensures enough time for the new growth to establish a good root system. If you repot before you run the risk of killing off the new growth. I would wait.

You may lose the spikes if repotted while in spike or bloom.

I don't grow in s/h, so can't advise as to that. I usually pot my Oncidiums in coconut husk chips, tho have used fir bark mix as well.

I would wait until new growths are just starting to show nubs of roots.

Personally if you are moving to S/H I wouldn't wait until they are an inch long as they will have already started tailoring themselves to the current medium and the S/H is quite a change, so you risk loosing the new roots, however if they are just nubs I find they transfer well into S/H really well.

I would wait until the growths are big enough to be starting to show root growth though, this should give the shortest time between root loss from repotting and from transfer to S/H, and the new roots getting established.

I like growing Oncidiums in S/H, they do the best for me of all the ones I've tried in S/H. I have a Sharry Baby I plan to put in S/H and all my other oncidium types are now potted that way.