Oncidium trouble

[Fabolusus]

I recently bought an oncidium from my favorite plant store. It appeared to be in good health, with fat psuedobulbs and olive green leaves with no curling or "accordian" effect. I have had only good experiences with this store, so I didn't think to pull the plant out of the pot and check the roots. It was placed inside of a decorative pot that came with it.

Once I got home and did my normal inspection, I discovered to my horror that it had been planted in soil and was completely water logged and ridden with black, rotten roots! I immediately cut the dead roots and repotted it in a mixture of coconut fiber, fine fir bark and perlite. It had 4 flower spikes full of buds! I know I probably should have immediately cut them off, but I figured that if it wasn't going to make it, at least I would have one good show.

Well, after 2 weeks, 3 leaves turned yellow and wilted. The flowers did bloom, however alot of buds didn't make it. It is now the third week, and I did cut off the flower spikes and they are in a nice vase. This is my first oncidium, and I am willing to do whatever I can to save it. Any advise?

[mayres]

My experience is that an orchid similar to this will have some significant issues if/when repotted during a period when the roots are not actively growing (which usually happens after flowering when the new growths/leads are beginning to show). Some loss of leaves like you are experiencing is inevitable - hopefully the older leaves. I would recommend you water with superthrive or some other root/growth stimulant at least until you see some new strong growth. Once you see that you will be "out of the woods". Good luck. mike

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Did it have any live roots left? In addition to the Super Thrive Mike mentions above, you could help it to maintain itself by covering the plant for awhile with a clear plastic bag, maybe one from a dry cleaners if the plant is too big for one of the kitchen types. Leave it open at the base as you still want a wet/dryish cycle, tho Oncidiums should not become hard dry. Give it Phal light. Sounds like you should mention this problem to your favorite plant store, since you probably would like them to remain your favorite plant store. They may not be aware of the difference in the potting medium from some particular source. There are a great many usable orchid mixes and they all work because the watering is adjusted to each.

[Fabolusus]

Thanks for the advise! I ordered superthrive and dynagrow K-L-N, and it looks like it will arrive next week. As for Market Blooms (my fav store)- they don't usually get orchids, so I don't think anyone there really knows how to properly care for them! They probably saw what looked to them to be an extremely root bound plant, not knowing that orchids like to be somewhat root bound. I am good friends with the manager there, and he said one of his subbordinates most likely did it. I probably should have told him as soon as I found out, because they sold out of the oncidiums the first week!