Really disappointed in my latest oncidium purchase
 

I just recieved this Oncidium Rex's Luck Firefly from secretgardenrareplants and I'm unhappy the plant has so few healthy roots and bulbs that are paper thin.
I'm new to growing orchids, so I'm not sure if this is standard for what you get in the mail. I have had healthier plants mailed to me. Would you ask for a refund and send the plant back?

I'm still working through the mostly dead roots, even ripped off an old tiny hollow bulb, but there still quite a few roots to go through. I pull off the thin coating if it slips off and then snip it off. If I were to keep it, would this plant benefit from being planted in sphagnum moss? There are a few ok roots coming off the newest growth.

Sigh. I'm so bummed. I wanted to get this one from Trader Joe's, but the last one in this color had some bulb weirdness I didn't know the cause of so took a chance and ordered this one. It was supposed to be a reward for a bunch of work I did last week. :(

First of all...

Yes!

After all this work on the plant, I'm not sure if they will accept to refund you. Try doesn't cost you nothing.

IMHO, that was a wise decision.

I think you should pot it in a medium that retains some mixture. The plant is dehydrated but, judging by the photo, the new growth looks ok, as well as the leaves. If there are new roots growing you must give it a good level of humidity and warm temps.

I don't know how experienced you are with watering with sphagnum, it is a delicate balance. I would use some but mixed with something like bark or leka. But this is me, a newbie to sphagnum.

Ok. Thank you for the response.

Im going to email and ask for a refund. I hate doing this sort of thing, and usually just suck it up, count it as a loss, and refuse to do business with them again. There seem to be a lot of careless plant sellers online though (had a phase of ordering succulents) and I have to start asking for refunds on subpar plants or I'll be broke and without any decent greenery to show for it. :lol:

Maybe I'll put in an order with someone else. I noticed a thread with recommended online vendors.

Hopefully this particular one will be at the upcoming orchid show and I can get a replacement then.

Did you order from a seller on e bay? I agree with rbarata, I would put it in a smallish pot, with a spaghnum mix. Keep it moist but not soggy and if you can keep the humidity up that would be good. Those stringy roots can still contribute, as like string, they can wick water up to the plant.

Someone will suggest Kelpmax to soak it in. It's great stuff if your budget will allow. Do read the thread on vendors. If your budget is meager, Olympic orchids sells inexpensive but tiny plants.

I would soak the roots for a couple of hours to see if anything turns green. If not, I would ask for a refund. It looks as though the new pseudobulb has already grown the set of roots. Sometimes Oncidiums will grow more new roots but many of them won't.

I agree with Leafmite; that doesn't look like such as lost cause, just a weak division. A little bit of pampering and it'll likely bounce back.

If you want to boost the root growth, I think I know someone that can help.

No need for modesty Ray, you're entitled to a shameless plug once in a while!

In the early days of my growing career, this is usually the quality of plant that could be found. The Oncidiums usually recovered quite quickly. I would just stake them on top of the medium and keep the medium damp for extra humidity. Eventually, it would put out new growth but, sometimes, they grew all new roots, too.

Some Oncidiums grow in very harsh climates which might explain why they are so tough.

I actually changed my mind regarding returning it yesterday. Poor plant might not live through being transported across the US again, and it's new growth IS doing ok with new roots coming in and healthy leaves.

I'll sit it slightly above the potting medium line and then layer a bit of sphagnum moss around the base to encourage root growth. This helped my oncidium sharry baby grow more roots around the top.

I also put in an order with olympic orchids...because that's just what happens when I browse an online orchid retailer. Lol