Repot trader joe's oncidium?

[Piotrsan]

Hi

I am new to growing orchids but I already see that I will have problems finding space for all the ones I want.
I just bought a noid oncidium from trader joe's and it is potted in some sort of sphagnum very dense and water retentive. It has many developing spikes, should I repot in bark immediately? there are many small filamentous roots extending outside the pot.
Thanks

[Kelo]

Moss can be a nightmare so, IMO, yes.

[Piotrsan]

Will the spikes likely die of f when repotting at this stage?

[Kelo]

If you can tease the moss from the roots and you're not too rough it should be fine. Keep it a little less light for a while too.

[james mickelso]

Do you mean developing growths or spikes? The spikes come out of the lower leaves usually one per plant but sometimes two, one on each side of the plant. New growths come out of the base of the plant below the level of the leaves. If the growths are spikes, then leave the plant alone. Don't repot. Just don't water the plant very much. Better to mist the foliage than wet the moss and create a lot of rot. If the growths are coming from the bottom below the leaves, then carefully, very carefully tease the moss away from the roots and plant in a medium orchid bark and sponge rock. You can chop up the spagnum moss into pieces not longer than 1/4 inch or so and mix that in with the bark for added humidity. Pot up to the base of the plant where the new growths are coming from. Water when the pot feels light. But don't let the media stay "wet". Just dry until lightly damp. The water well and let dry again. The plant needs medium light level. Your hand held about 12 inches from the plant should cast a diffuse shadow. Not a sharp one.

[Piotrsan]

Thanks
I ended up repotting even if there are flower spikes and the plant is blooming. Roots were.very healthy, maybe shouldn't have repotted. Hope it won't drop the flowers

[RosieC]

If you're not comfortable about growing in moss then repotting while the roots are still nice and healthy probably was the best thing...l why wait till they start dying because you can't work out how much to water it in moss (I'm not comfortable with moss).

It is possible the spikes will abort, but then again they may not. Saving the plant is the real aim.

[flexdc]

Repotting I think should be fine just make sure you don't damage too many roots. Most trader joe orchids come in these compacted sphag balls. They are horrible for the orchid roots. I repot most of mine almost immediately. I killed a few after leaving them in that sphag for too long.

[Piotrsan]

Mine was in some kind od shag and perlite is our any better ?

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[flexdc]

I have seen them in strict sphag and also sometimes in a peat mix. Since I want to water everything about the same, I usually take the sphag out and put it in my own mix. For Oncidiums I use medium bark plus some phags for moisture retention. This works for my growing condition.