Oncidium or Odontoglossum? - Orchid Board

PapaPhal · #1 03-09-2013, 04:36 PM

Hi everyone, I am looking for some help. More specifically I am looking for a little identification help. I have this NOID plant. When I purchased it all the tag said was “premium orchid”. After I purchased this plant I did some research to try an ID it. Not so much the exact plant name but more what type of an orchid it is such as Odontoglossum or Oncidium. After that initial research I thought it was an Odontoglossum but then sometime after that I starting thinking it was an Oncidium and started putting it in the type of conditions that are favorable to Oncidium’s which to my understanding are basically the same as cattleyas. I have owned this plant for approximately one year now. In that time, it has grown some new chutes but has not flowered. It has very thin roots. Each individual root is approx. 1/32” in diameter. The roots look to be in good condition. However the foliage looks bad. Some of it is very corrugated. The pseudo bulbs are very wrinkled, with the exception of the new growth, and to me it looks like I have not been watering it enough but I water it when the skewer looks damp which is usually once a week. For about a month I have been watering it by letting it soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Since I have been doing this I really have not seen any improvement.
Is there a chance that it is an Odontoglossum and that it is getting too much sun?

WhiteRabbit · #2 03-09-2013, 06:07 PM

It's very likely an Onc alliance intergeneric hybrid that may, or may not include Oncidium and/or Odontoglossum.

When did you last check the roots? I would suspect few, if any good roots, since it sounds like it's getting sufficient water. Or, it may be over-watered. Skewer should just feel very lightly damp. What media is this potted in?

PapaPhal · #3 03-09-2013, 06:34 PM

It has been probably 5 months since I repotted it in a course bark/pearlite mix. At that time the roots looked ok, meaning there were not a lot of them but what was there looked healthy. I have not repotted since but the plant is actually potted in a plastic net type pot which removable from the larger clear plastic one that you can see it the pictures. I am able to peek through the slits in the net pot and look at the visible roots. From what I can see after a good watering they look dark green. But I just went and checked them and there are a few dead brown ones in there also.

WhiteRabbit · #4 03-09-2013, 06:55 PM

The pleated foliage won't un-pleat, nor will shriveled pbulbs replump, so you have to judge by new growth. The one new growth with severely pleated foliage looks like it is coming in ok now...?

billc · #5 03-09-2013, 07:08 PM

It looks like an oncidium intergeneric, don't think you'll ever figure out which one without a tag. Your mix looks to be too course for the plant. I would repot it a finer bark mix. It looks like it's growing but is not getting enough moisture. Once a week watering with a course mix like that is probably the problem. The color of the leaves looks good so the light it's getting is OK. If you water it more frequently and /or put it in a finer mix it should be just fine. Like Sonya said, the wrinkles will stay but they give it character.

Bill

PapaPhal · #6 03-09-2013, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

The pleated foliage won't un-pleat, nor will shriveled pbulbs replump, so you have to judge by new growth. The one new growth with severely pleated foliage looks like it is coming in ok now...?

Well I am not sure to be honest because it has been in that same condition for 3 or 4 months. There has not been much additional growth. I have wondered if this plant stops growing during the winter months. However, lately a new chute has started and there are some signs of additional root growth all be it slight. For the record I must say that the wrinkled pbulbs have been there since I have owned the plant. When I bought it I knew nothing more than I liked the flowers. If I could start over, and knowing what I know now I do not think I would make that purchase again. Little did I know I was buying a rescue.

So back to one of my original questions. What is the chance that it is getting too much sun? I have it in a west facing window it receives morning through early afternoon sun through a venetian blind.

---------- Post added at 05:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:28 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by billc

It looks like an oncidium intergeneric, don't think you'll ever figure out which one without a tag. Your mix looks to be too course for the plant. I would repot it a finer bark mix. It looks like it's growing but is not getting enough moisture. Once a week watering with a course mix like that is probably the problem. The color of the leaves looks good so the light it's getting is OK. If you water it more frequently and /or put it in a finer mix it should be just fine. Like Sonya said, the wrinkles will stay but they give it character.

Bill

Originally it was in a finer mix than I have it in now. When would be a good time to repot it?
Regarding Sonya's "It gives it character comment", all I have to say is what's said on the OB stays on the OB. If my wife were to read that she might say the bulbs remind her of me.

Scary!

WhiteRabbit · #7 03-09-2013, 07:45 PM

I don't think it's getting too much sun - foliage looks to be a good color. In summer, you might need to keep it out of mid-day sun.

I can see the lower portions (newer areas) of the newer growths look to be coming in nicely, and I see a pbulb developing well in the 4th photo.

I really think it's doing ok now. Finer bark mix wouldn't hurt (I have grown fine rooted Oncidiums in medium bark, and they did fine, but it's impossible, when repotting, to remove the old medium bark without damaging roots a lot)