New Oncidium Twinkle Repotting Question
 

Hello, I purchased this Oncidium Twinkle Pink Profusion about 3 weeks ago. I have wanted one for a while and was thrilled when I saw this one at a local nursery. It is my first oncidium of any kind so I have some learning to do. It is on my East facing screened porch outside now. I am guessing it would like that more than an east facing window inside.

My question is, should I repot it or leave it alone right now? I usually repot new orchids immediately but this one I hesitate for several reasons. It is is a square 3" plastic pot with drainholes in the bottom. As far as I can tell it is in a small bark and spongerock mix. I don't think there is sphagnum, as it is very light and water runs right through and there frankly is just not enough room to have much if any of any mix. It has a spike on its was out (I think?) and 2 spikes growing, and 3 new pseudobulbs starting - one of the front edge, one on the back edge, and one right in the middle. I am not sure if I am ok leaving it until next spring (I think I'll need to water very often in this tiny pot) or if I should raise the pot size a tiny bit now to ensure room for new growths.

Thanks for any advice as always!

H

Twinkle is a "thin root" Oncidium, so it will require regular watering. My experience is that they "sulk" when repotted. They also like to be pot bound, so use the smallest possible pot. I would not repot until the media starts to break down or the plant outgrows its pot. And only repot when new growth is evident as this will help the plant reestablish itself in the new media in the shortest possible time.

So it looks good as is to me. I would not repot.

Here in the Northeast, it is common to grow Oncids, Miltonias, etc. in a mix of seedling size bark, charcoal & perlite. I don't know what mix FL growers usually select for this group of plants.

In Hawaii (likely origin of the plant), a larger granular mix is used, so it is advisable to repot using whatever mix is judged superior in the area it will be grown.

Agreed. I have one of these also and am waiting for the new pbulbs to start putting out some roots before I repot it. The roots on this plant are super fine and will need to be handled delicately. If it's in bloom, I would definitely leave it alone. Repotting would probably cause it to drop all of its flowers.

Thanks everybody. I will leave it be for now and water often. It's tiny pot and roots remind of my tolumnia. Both oncidium family anyway I think. It I will water often this summer and revisit the repotting question later when the new pseudobulbs grow up.

H

You can repot this now if you'ld like. But like the others, I would wait until the new growth has roots more than an inch long. Then I would dry it out, take the whole thing and repot into a little larger pot. That way you won't have to repot when this is really establishing itself. This was grown in high humidity, bright light, warm, and with very good water. It was grown mass produced. It also had a very strong breeze to help modify the moisture in the pot. These thin rooted oncids rot very easily and in your environment should be allowed to become almost dry. Then thoroughly watered and then left to become nearly dry again. Medium light and fed weekly/weakly. They grow very well mounted if you can water them every day during summer and let them become dryish in winter. They also grow very well in very loose moss.

I also agree. I repotted mine in the spring when it had finished blooming and was starting to grow. Mine didn't sulk but took off growing quickly. I have my 2 in coconut chips with perlite and they love it.

Remember that the new growth is taking all it's energy from the old pbulbs which is why they are slowly wrinkling. because of this, the old pbulbs roots need to be kept from damage until the new growth has it's own set of roots and can get it's own moisture and nutrients. Repotting too early can set back not only the new growth but the old as well. This can slow or stall the new growth. The oncid roots are the most prone to rot of anything else I grow. Once the new growth has roots of their own they can really take off. It's amazing how quickly they grow.

Thanks so much for the information. I am not repotting now for sure. I have to really think about what I'm doing when it comes to watering though, with regards to not rotting the roots but keeping it properly hydrated. I wouldn't have thought teeny tiny opaque pots stuffed full would be hard to check for moisture but it is. I assume it dries out pretty immediately but eesh. It is outside where it is very warm and in humidity with a couple hours of bright morning sun, and bright shade until afternoon.

It's easy to learn when to water if you pay attention. It is easiest by weight. Water thoroughly and pick up the pot. Notice how heavy it feels. In a few days, pick it up and feel how light it is. It will be very apparent unless you pot in rocks.