Oncidium Varicosum repotting - Orchid Board

Roma Oli · #1 03-07-2020, 05:33 PM

Hello,

I'd be happy to get your advice on how to repot this orchid. It has been growing in this pot for 2 years and lately been blooming.

It is currently in a 5 in diameter pot, has 3 old pseudobulbs in the center and 2 "branches" of growth with additional pseudobulbs on sides (3 pseudobulbs each). It has quite a lot of aerial roots at a higher level than the media, not sure if they should be left in the air or I should try to move them into media when repotting.

I assume I should get a 6 in (?) pot and repot the whole plant (not sure if 6 in pot is enough). Also, I am wondering if there's any advantage in separating it into two plants.

For media, I am thinking of medium bark mixed with sphagnum moss... It is currently in an oncidium mix sold by rePotme (Small Orchiata Monterey Pine Bark,
Turface MVP and Small Black Lava Rock). I currently water it twice a week (I give it a several minutes shower) but it doesn't seem to be enough.
During the blooming, it got a lot of wrinkled leaves and pseudobulbs, even though I started watering it more often than usual.

It also has some roots with brown tips, not sure why.

Thank you so much!

DirtyCoconuts · #2 03-08-2020, 12:38 AM

I would not divide that plant yet. It looks very happy from what I can see.

Roberta · #3 03-08-2020, 11:18 AM

I agree with DC.... don't divide. Just drop into a larger pot and add medium. Those new growths need a little room to expand, they're drawing their strength from the old large pseudobulbs and still need them (In time ithey will shrivel down, having given their energy to the new ones which will develop into plump ones. These do like to be kept on the damp (not soggy) side, the larger pot will give more room for the roots to get into the medium and absorb water.

Roma Oli · #4 03-08-2020, 05:54 PM

Thank you both! Really appreciate your advice. I will get a larger pot and repot after it finishes blooming.

Roberta · #5 03-08-2020, 06:31 PM

One more thought... when you repot, try to put the oldest part of the plant against one side, so the new growth is in the middle (giving it root to add some more new growth over the next 2-3 years) It is tempting to center the plant in the new pot, but since it probably is growing in only one direction that reduces the space for new growth. Now, if it is growing in two directions, then try to optimize the growing space for both.

Roma Oli · #6 03-10-2020, 01:52 AM

Thank you so much for advice!

Looking at the plant, it seems to me an elongated pot would work best but I cannot really find something like that to buy. So I am thinking of an 8" round pot. I wonder if it is ok to plant it into a mesh pot or is it dangerous for the roots to get tangled in between the openings. Other plastic pots of that size don't have openings on sides...

Roberta · #7 03-10-2020, 10:48 AM

I think an 8 inch pot would be too big. 6 inch (15 cm) would be about right. If you soak the roots for an hour or two they will be softer. Then you can put them into their new "home" with a twisting motion. You don't want a pot that is too large because that leads to a wet, airless area in the middle of the pot that kills roots. This type of orchid likes to stay moist, which would be hard to maintain in a mesh pot. (Roots love to run free in nature, or in a greenhouse, but the humidity of a home is really too low for that)