Do Oncidiums like to be root bound?
Oncidium blooms are easily achieved when its dormancy irrigations are reduced by half, with those who have a cooler room without artificial light at night being on the upper-hand, too. Keep the roots pot-bound to add further stress onto the specimen, which in turn will significantly heighten the chance of flowering. Cut off the branch with the faded flowers at the bottom of the flower stem. After flowering, place the Oncidium in a cooler place, but in a place where there is light (no direct sunlight) and you continue to give the spent Oncidium (orchid) nutrition once a month.Oncidiums are light-loving orchids, with some able to handle direct, full sun. They thrive at 60-65° F at night, and 70-85° F during the day.There are two main things your oncidium needs to bloom properly: enough light and the right temperature.
Do Oncidium orchids like to be root bound?
oncidium orchids love to be root bound and don’t like much extra room in the pot. Do not chop the rootball in half, there’s no need to, and that’s not something normally done with orchids anyway. Potted orchids must have good drainage holes and should never be allowed to sit in water. Make sure that there’s good aeration in the potting medium as well. Orchid roots need adequate airflow and oxygen to remain healthy.Many orchids prefer the shallower bulb or azalea pots to the taller standard sized pots.In nature Orchids do not grow in dirt. Their roots are completely exposed to air. The roots are just fine. Just make sure you Get them wet when you water.Be sure to water your oncidium orchids every two to ten days with room temperature water, unless it feels moist or if the soil is not yet dry to the touch. If your oncidium is producing thicker leaves, you can ease up on the watering.
What do unhealthy orchid roots look like?
In general, healthy orchid roots are plump and firm, while unhealthy roots may be mushy, withered, hollow, or even smelly. Orchids, like many other plants, sometimes need to have damaged or diseased roots removed to ensure healthy growth and development. Additionally, when an orchid becomes too cramped in its current pot, it is recommended that you trim off some of the aerial roots and transplant the plant into a larger pot.Air roots are normal in Phalaenopsis and other epiphyte orchids. Epiphytes grow on other plants, such as trees in a tropical rainforest. Unlike terrestrial orchids that root in the earth, epiphyte orchids grow above the ground, using their roots to attach themselves to tree branches.Watering Orchids Based on Their Roots Velamen color indicates water needs: dry velamen is white or silvery; freshly watered velamen is green or mottled. Orchids can be watered from the top or bottom. Mounted plants will need more water than unmounted plants.Keep it in the right humidity Orchids thrive in humid environments, which is why you usually find them in nature in dense jungles and rich tropical areas. In your home, try to keep your orchid in a room where the humidity will remain between 50 to 70%. If you live in a dry, arid climate, this can be a challenge.Quite often, Phalaenopsis orchids will send up new leaves and new roots shortly before producing a new flower stalk, so if you’ve seen this happen, it may be an orchid spike. Whether it’s a new root or a new spike, when you see it emerge, keep the care for your plant consistent so that new growth can flourish.
What do I do with the roots of an orchid?
Orchid roots like air and will rot if kept soggy and wet. Once home, plants should be carefully removed from pots and plastic liners along with any moss (image 1). Cut back any rotted or dead roots and follow the repotting instructions below. Your orchid will not die if you bury aerial roots. While it is best to repot when new roots are starting to grow, your plant will still adjust and benefit in the long term. In this case I had no choice but to bury the aerial roots anyway because all of the old roots in the pot of this recuse orchid had completely died.Don’t cut these aerial roots; let them do their job. However, commercial orchids are usually potted in pine bark or sphagnum moss. Over time, these elements degrade, subjecting the roots to considerable stress and a high risk of rotting.As exposure to air is needed as a part of their primary function, surface roots should never be buried or forced below the surface of the growing medium. Root structures should never be removed from the plant unless they have died back naturally or have become damaged in some way.Gently ease the air roots into their natural growing position. This may include easing some roots through additional holes (as in an orchid pot). Avoid bending or compressing the roots as much as possible. Roots growing up or out should not be forced down into the pot.