Oncidium Pseudobulb Division Questions - Orchid Board

nms1107 · #1 10-12-2007, 05:33 PM

I have an Oncidium that I bought last week which needed to be repotted. I took it out of the pot and it separated on its' own into 2 plants. One has 3pseudobulbs, the other has 2.

Now I've read that you should never divide into less than 5 bulbs or they won't bloom. Is that correct and if so, is there anything I can or should do with my now separated plant(s)?

Also, some of the bulbs are really 'wrinkled' with hard creases running vertically and some are smooth. Are they supposed to be one way or the other?

I'm new to orchids in general and this is my first Oncidium so any basic advice is appreciated.

Thanks much,
Dutch

cb977 · #2 10-12-2007, 07:29 PM

Hi Dutch

Welcome to the world of orchids

The basic rule is not to divide into less than three bulbs. Oncidiums like to be crowded so my personal choice would be to pot them together in a pot that will not be oversized for them.

In my experience, oncidium bulbs are usually pretty wrinkled. I am just starting to see some improvement in my oncidiums...for some reason, they've been giving me a hard time. I guess they've decided to play nice

Ross · #3 10-12-2007, 07:41 PM

I don't really do Oncidiums (but have some of the intergeneric crosses) and my opinion is that the pot you purchased had two plants - one with two bulbs and one with 3. So if it grew and blossomed that way, it is good to do it again. If these were mine I would pot up in two small pots (so each is crowded) and so the growing end has room for the next bulb. I would soak them in Dynagrow KLN during the transplant (my choice) and then wait till I saw some signs of root growth and/or top growth. I would be light on the water till one of these occured first. You don't want to rot the roots that remain. I have done this with a Miltonidium that had a blooming pbulb with no (natta) roots. It now thrives. Not promising anything here, but try your luck and see if you can't produce two wonderfully thriving plants?

nms1107 · #4 10-19-2007, 12:10 AM

Thanks for the replies Susanne and Ross. Differing opinions so I guess I'll go with my instinct that tells me to put them back together as they are fairly small to start with.

Hope and a prayer ;-)

Dutch

Lagoon · #5 10-19-2007, 10:09 AM

Bonjour Dutch,

If you have already seperated & repotted the orchid, then it might be a good idea to well enough alone. Too much undue stress.
Your bulbs will grow other bulbs and when it's recieves the right culture and it's ready - it will bloom.

G'luck with your 'chid

nms1107 · #6 10-26-2007, 04:08 AM

Merci beaucoup for your thoughts Gloria. Yes, I had already put the two sections into separate pots so maybe I am better off just leaving them be for now. (I've been out of town for the last week so didn't put them back together yet.)

Dutch