Rescue Oncidium, Need Advice

[ceahorse]

Only had phalaenopsis before. BUT I found this guy at lowes on death row, he seems pretty healthy. BUT very dry!
Done flowering so I need to remove the stalk.
Can it be divided?
Shall I repot and to what size pot?
Remove all the medium it's in now?
What type new medium? ( I have both bark & moss).
It came in the plastic pot and the plastic pot was setting inside the Terra cotta.

[ceahorse]

Here are a few more pictures while in it's pot.
Do I put the roots below the potting mix?

[philthy]

I like to grow my Oncidiums in a mixture of medium bark, small bark, charcoal, and perlite. I also like to use a pot with many drainage holes. I live in a really dry area so when the plants are in their growing period, I am watering every 2-4 days. I would remove as much of the old medium as possible without destroying the roots and move to a pot with at least an inch of room to grow around the rootball. I wouldn't divide it until you have more pseudobulbs. I think the rule of thumb is too only divide when you have 3 or more pseudobulbs per section. Those bulbs look really healthy so I'm sure it will thank you for repotting with new roots and lead growths. I'm curious to hear what others say about putting the arial roots into the medium. My understanding is that roots do not like to go into the medium if they have developed as arial roots.

[Phalcycle]

When you repotted, make sure to have taken out the moss in the root ball, and use another medium such as bark, or even S/H.
The roots, depending on your humidity, can be in or out of the pot, they grow out in nature, so it wouldnt be a problem if you replcate its enviroment.
As for divide, this plant it still to small to divide, there should be atleast 6 mature bulbs or psudobulbs. Each division should have 3 to support and maintain itself.
Cut the spike as far down, without hurting the plant, and apply an anti-fungal or cinnamon

[ceahorse]

Thanks for your help!
It was almost impossible to remove the moss it was growing in, roots are wrap so tight.
I was able to remove maybe a 1/4 but was afraid of damaging the roots if I pull to much out.
I re-potted in the clay pot for now, it was slightly bigger.
I figure since it was new I wouldn't stress it to much!

[koshki]

I think that baby could do with a REALLY long soak!

[orchids4me]

If you soak it for a bit it will help re hydrate it and loosen up the rest of the old media from the roots and you will be able to check the roots to remove the old dead roots from the root ball. I also plant mine in bark mixture of perlite and charcoal. They like water but need fast draining to not get root rot in the dense root ball by staying to wet to long especially in the winter.
Good luck
Emmaye

[VEEKTOR]

Lowes Death Row
I like that, I think you've coined a new term here!
Everyone seems to be giving you good advice
so my advice- Do what they said.