Newb Oncidium Potting Medium Question

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Hybrid Oncidiums usually rest after flowering, and sometimes begin growing before the flowers are finished. They usually grow new roots and shoots at the same time.

You may be able to slide the root ball out of the plastic pot and examine the roots.

[Ray]

As a new orchid grower, the choice of potting medium is tougher than it may be for a more experienced grower. The key is to provide sufficient water, without suffocating the roots (THE key to success with all orchids), in a schedule that suits your needs.

Besides your own tendencies (do you like to "mess with" your plants, or are you limited to once-a-week watering, for example) there are actually four variables in that "equation": the moisture-holding capacity of the potting medium, how open and airy it is, how your growing environment affects the rate of evaporation, and how the choice of container also affects that.

As an example, in my warm and very humid greenhouse, I grow oncidiums in sphagnum moss in baskets. The moss holds a lot of water, but I don't pack it extremely tightly, and the airy nature of the basket allows it to dry easily and uniformly, so the roots have lots of air. When they are in bloom, and I bring them indoors (we're enjoying a Sharry Baby in the kitchen at the moment), that much drier environment has me watering the plant every other day. If it was going to stay in that window permanently, I'd use a plastic pot to slow the evaporation rate, and probably use a bark/moss mix to open it up a bit.

In other words, what works for one grower, may-, or may not be good for you, so you need to do some assessment of your conditions and time availability before you decide.

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The roots are healthy now. It is easy to overwater orchids in this kind of potting mix. You might want to go to the beginner's forum and look for how to use a wood barbeque skewer to check for moistness.

There are no new vegetative growths. When these occur they will be bright green sprouts pointing upwards.

I would wait to repot this plant until it starts growing, but that means you are going to have to be careful not to overwater.

[Devogenes]

Cool. Thanks for the help!

[wintergirl]

I grow mine bare rooted in a clay pot that fits the roots. I just stuff chunky bark in the sides of the pot to make it fit tight and stabilize the plant. I water about every 3-6 days depending on the temp.