oncidium problems

[ARANDO]

Hi

just wondering - i think its root rot on the oncidium, but im not sure - i did repot and used rose care. but it keeps on going worse - can i cut all the roots and devide to try and save the plant? thanx

[SurfDudeVb]

Don't know about root rot, its definitely severely dehydrated though. Those psuedobulbs should be fully inflated with water. Try filling a container with some good water and let it soak for a day, by sticking the whole pot in the water. Then take it out let it drain and water with fertilizer the next day. Hopefully, the bulbs will fill up some and the ferts will give it a nice boost of energy.

[orchids4me]

Are those other growths attached to the yellowing P/B ? It may be using the energy from the old bulbs. I'm concerned also suspect bacterial rot or old bulb. I would def check the roots see what's going on there since the other p/b's are shiveled. Some of these do have shrivled bulbs but only to a degree.
I'd pot it up and maybe use a rooting hormone to help it along I wouldn't use fertilizer right now in this state....
New growths is where new roots will most likely start and those older p/!'S is where the new growth will sprout from so try to care for them best you can to get new growths. An orchids instint is to survive so it may throw some new growths. Be patient may have to treat for a bacterial issue also.
Good luck!

[sunshine]

That is seriously dehydrated. What did you repot in? If it were mine I would deep 6 it buy another and start over.

[Fishmom]

Arando, you say that you repotted the plant; what did you see then? Did it have viable roots? They would be thin but firm, probably white or light brown, maybe with green tips. If they just looked like threads, they were dead and not able to take up water. If you saw black roots, or mush at the base of the plant, that would be rot and should have been cut out immediately with a sterile knife or razor blade, back to the point where you found some green.

At this point, bi-weekly treatment with a rooting hormone or seaweed liquid combined with a fairly dry potting medium may help spur some growth, but it is going to take a while for that baby to produce anything in the way of blooms.

Good luck.

[ARANDO]

The roots are yelowish brown and a bit soggy - also there were a lot of new growth that looked rotted and fell of - that is why i think its some kind of rot - i repot in fine bark and river sand mix