Beallara Marfitch Advice.

[armando81603]

This is my first orchid I have grown that is going to rebloom again since I purchased. It sent out a flower spike about 3 weeks ago. It has also started to grow a lot of roots; previously it was just growing new shoots. When I originally purchased the orchid it s bulbs where relatively smooth, nothing to make me think dehydration. During the summer after the flowers had fallen off I decided to repot the plant in a generic course bark. Shortly after that the s bulbs developed more creases. They have not gotten worse but they have never gone away

My question is should I repot the plant since there is so much new root growth into a better medium or should I wait until it is finished blooming?

Signed
Armando

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

My preference for a member of the Oncidium alliance would be a finer mix like small/fine bark. The time to repot is when the new growth is just starting a flush of new roots. I think you have probably already passed this point and you would probably lose the spike if you repotted now. However, any time a mix just falls away from the roots with no damage to the roots, it is OK to repot, so long as you don't do much damage in putting in the new mix, which should not be too bad with a fine mix. So, if the root ball will come out of the pot with not to much effort, you can at least ascess the situation. If the mix is well imbedded in the roots, just put the ball back into the pot and wait for the next oportunity. Oncidiums should get close to dry, but not get completely dry. Have you read the skewer post?
Skewer use for watering of orchids

[armando81603]

Thanks Cynthia!

I will check out the skewer post.