wrinkly oncidium - Orchid Board

RJSquirrel · #1 05-09-2010, 11:17 PM

you all got me worried about my oncidium. the blooms fell and I trimmed the 3 spikes back because the roots were in such bad shape as it was just soaking wet from the store I bought it and needed new media. It was SMELLY.

I noticed old growth under the wrinkly bulbs and new growth on the outside of the wrinkly bulbs.Its replacing the bulbs and I should not worry?

WhiteRabbit · #2 05-09-2010, 11:20 PM

with fresh media and proper culture the new growth should be fine

RosieC · #3 05-10-2010, 10:06 AM

I have a problem with all my Onc allicance orchids getting wrinkly p-bulbs. Yours has nothing compared to the wrinkles on my Onc Sweet Sugar and all my others in the alliance are arround the same as yours.

I think it's simply due to it not drawing enough moisture for whatever reason. In my case that is likely that I'm scared to water them enough, in your case the bad roots are the likely cause.

I think in your case, if it is putting on new growth then there is no need to worry because you should find the new growth puts out new roots and the new growths should be fine.

In my case I DO worry, because I'm really worried about overwatering and also worried that I'm not getting them enough water

Donald · #4 05-10-2010, 11:14 AM

You should be OK.

Connie Star · #5 05-10-2010, 11:23 PM

I have had an Oncidium twinkle for about 3 months. It was in flower when I got it and the pbs were very tightly crammed into the pot. I couldn't get the watering right and the pbs first shriveled and then turned mushy. Honestly not sure if I watered too much or not enough- suspect not enough at first, then too much too quick. Anyway, after it stopped flowering, I repotted it (the grower had told me to do so as soon as the flowers dropped). I pruned the mushy pbs drastically and tried to loosen the tangled roots a bit. It now seems to be doing very well in a commercial orchid mix and I think it will survive.

RJSquirrel · #6 05-10-2010, 11:41 PM

I kind of feel better

I was looking today at the same shop I bought this one from and you know all of the ones they have are pretty much the same condition so its nothing I did. YET..I did re pot it and pulled the foam out of the middle of it. Too wet or too dry seem to have the same effect and thats frustrating to me. keeps me busy too

kitkat · #7 05-19-2010, 08:15 PM

My oncidium, my first, was ripped out of its pot by my nephews and left for dead. Now, after repotting, it has about 4 new sprouts. How long do the new pseudo bulbs take before blooming? This might be a question a bit like 'how long is a piece of string.....? TIA Kat

WhiteRabbit · #8 05-19-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitkat

My oncidium, my first, was ripped out of its pot by my nephews and left for dead. Now, after repotting, it has about 4 new sprouts. How long do the new pseudo bulbs take before blooming? This might be a question a bit like 'how long is a piece of string.....? TIA Kat

Some of the inter-generics initiate spikes before the growth is mature, but most only on mature, or very near mature growths. My couple of actually Oncidiums (genus Onc) initiate spikes on at least near-mature growths (there is a formed, nearly full size pbulb).

And some of the inter-generics push out new growth at various times during the year, but only the ones that are mature at it's bloom season spike ... or I am doing something wrong lol - always a possibility ...

jrodpad · #9 05-20-2010, 10:25 AM

I have a couple of oncs - the last one that I purchased has deeply wrinkled, hard pseudo bulbs. When I purchased it, I asked the horticulturist at the greenhouse if the wrinkled pseudo bulbs were an indication that the plant was under-watered or otherwise unhappy. She explained that some oncs simply grow that way, including this particular cross. She went on to explain that wrinkled pseudo bulbs on an onc are really only an issue when they start out firm and smooth and later become wrinkled or loose their firmness. I think the fact that the other oncs at your shop were similarly wrinkled is telling - when I bought the aforementioned onc, all of the others of the same cross in the greenhouse were in the same condition. Moreover, I've had the onc flower a few times and each time the new pseudo bulb grows and becomes wrinkled and firm.

- J

jkhom · #10 05-20-2010, 04:03 PM

I've had the same wrinkly p bulb with 3 of my oncidiums. The roots would also look dry after a while. I use bark mixture and my environment lacks high humidity. I changed the method of watering to soaking the entire pot for about 10 minutes every week. All 3 are growing roots like crazy and even the real wriinkled bulbs are starting to fill.