New grower with 4 small oncidiums
 

Hello, I'm new to the Orchid World. I inherited a few that my dad had acquired. This sparked an interest and I purchased a few. They are small and I acquired them thru the mail. Concerned about 2, I watched YouTube videos. Today, I delved into repotting them, hoping to find out what's what.

Looking at the photo, left to right, #1 looks good. #2 looks sad with few roots. I think it got too cold in transit. Few roots. #3 looks the healthiest. It was potted 100% spaghnum. #4 is the largest & saddest. Roots were very rotted. There was 1 decaying pseudobulb in the pot, too.

All have been repotted in a fine mix in 3" pots. I read about the skewer/water method & will try that. My question, finally, is what might boost their chances?Should they be fertilized tho they're struggling? Should they be enclosed to boost humidity? Understanding that they may perish, I just want to make an attempt & learn in the process. THank you!

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Yank the Oncidium splendidum and the one at the far right of the photo out of the pots right away. Let them dry out in the air.

Oncidiums come from many different climate patterns; the ones with very heavy, stiff leaves don't like being cold and wet. They have a long, dry winter with minimal rain or dew.

After they're good and dry, repot them into dry medium, and don't water them. Put them someplace as warm, bright and humid as you can, but don't water them until they are making new roots.

You are correct that they may have become too cold in transit. If you're lucky, even if they drop all their leaves, they might still make new growth from the bases of the pseudobulbs at the appropriate season.

The soft-leaved ones should do fine. Those pots are a little larger than I would have used, but they will be fine. These don't like to dry completely. Give them bright light and regular watering, and they should grow well.

Do the other three have name tags? That would help with advice.

Thank you!

I pulled them & will repot in completely dry medium.

The far left says Wils. Space Mtn 'Red Rendezvous'
Far right is Sweet Sugar Million Dollar.
Other is NOID

Thanks again. I'll let you know how they do.

The Wilsonara does need regular moisture. The NOID the same, since it's a soft-leaved plant. When it flowers we can guess its ancestry a little better.

Sweet Sugar is amazingly forgiving of mistakes. There is a good chance it will make it if the very bases of the pseudobulbs, and the rhizome connecting them, are still firm and healthy.

The splendidum is not looking splendid. Expect the worst; hope for the best.

As an aside, reputable orchid vendors normally hold shipments when the weather is just too cold, and often include heat packs when the weather is "perhaps we can ship." There is a thread here for vendor feedback where you can read about many orchid vendors in the US.

And be aware there are lots of laws and regulations regarding importing orchids from other countries into the USA. Be sure you understand everything and do it right, with the correct permits, or you might find yourself having lot$ of $ubstantial problem$.

Thanks. I read another post about Sweet Sugar that showed pseudobulbs as shriveled as mine. It was blooming. So I'm hopeful.