Oncidium Help

[theanalyst]

I purchased an oncidium (not sure exactly what kind) sometimes in late summer/early fall 2016 from Trader Joe's. I usually never have trouble with plants from TJ and I was surprised when I came home to find it planted in soil. I immediately, repotted it in in coconut bark, the only medium I had at the time.

The orchid lives at my office. For a while it was in a window, then on a end with less light as seen in the picture), and now back in a window. Over the months, while sitting in a window, the bulbs shriveled and it just doesn't look very healthy. I water it once a week and mist if it appears dry. The light in the window varies this season, since I am in Upstate NY. It can be pretty bright on sunny days, but we tend to have many days with overcast and/or rain/snow.

Any ideas? Solutions to help it?


Picture 1: With flowers, taken in September.


Picture 2: After being misted, while sitting on an end table.


Picture 3: Close-up

[MrHappyRotter]

Was it actively growing when you repotted it? For oncidiums and many other orchids, it's best to wait until the new growth has emerged and started growing new roots before repotting. Otherwise, older roots may not be able to adapt and will die off or just be incapable of getting enough water.

How's the humidity in your office where the plant is growing? Misting periodically isn't necessarily enough to overcome very dry air.

Is it getting enough light? Too much light?

Is it possible you've been over watering (resulting in roots dying)? If the plant isn't actively growing and has gone dormant, you have to cut back on watering. I don't grow in your conditions, and I don't grow in your potting mix, so I don't know if weekly watering is too little or too much, so you'll have to make this determination.

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[ula]

Hi,
looks like Aliceara (I might be wrong tho). I noticed those like even moisture around their roots so the medium you're using could be too coarse. I usually grow most of the orchids I have in bark mix, but I find that all of the Oncidium alliance are happier in sphag.

[fishmom]

That plant looks pretty dehydrated to me, with the shriveled bulbs. I grow my oncidiums in bark, but a fine mix, using the rule that fine roots means fine bark. The coco looks pretty coarse for an oncidium. Try using a bamboo skewer to monitor the moisture in the pot.

If it were mine, I would dump it out and check the roots right away. If you have no roots due to drying or rot, the moisture in the pot will be less important than generating some new root growth at the base of the newest bulbs.

[theanalyst]

Thanks for the replies! I do think it probably could use some more water. I have two other orchids in my office, both phals, and I unfortunately watered this one at the same time as those. But I think the oncidium needs more water. That said, I have increased how much it gets and the bulbs never recovered.

I don't think it gets too much light, because the phals would probably burn if it did. But, I had tried it placing on the end table for a while, to see if it just didn't like the window. This didn't make a difference.

I will have to bring some other potting medium to work and repot it when I have time. It was actively growing when I got and the only reason I repotted it at that time was because whoever the supplier was had it growing in soil. I have an oncidium at home that does well in a bark mix.

[estación seca]

I agree it's a complex Oncidium hybrid. Beallara also comes to mind.

These are thirsty plants. I think the problem is underwatering.