Three new orchids, all NBS, this week, via an online vendor. They were about $8 each, and came looking quite healthy:

Vuylstekeara Fall in Love 'Lovely Lady' AM/AOS
Howeara Lava Burst 'Puanani' AM/AOS
Bollopetalum Midnight Blue ‘Cardinal’s Roost’


Pawing around, I have gleaned that the Vuyl and the Hwra are members of the Oncidium alliance (which, my daughter says, sounds like a group of ominous super-villians, but I digress). So, I assume they get care like oncidiums?

Not sure how you abbreviate “bollopetalum”, but it seems like it is part of the Maxillaria Tribe.
OK. Not sure why they get to be part of a tribe vs an alliance, but are they also related to Oncidiums?

And, all three came with 4” pots with brand-new, damp spag. Maybe they ship them that way to keep them from drying out, but I am thinking they need re-potting with a coarser mix? Kinda a medium grade mix with mostly bark is what I use on most of my orchids (except my phal and paph). Sound OK??

Oh, and at the big-box store this am, a BLC stuck in a plastic bag and starting to show a bloom sheath caught my eye, winked at me, and then jumped in my cart. The brazen orchid is now on my patio. I know new orchids should be segregated from your collection for a while to be sure they are healthy…how long is “a while”

Thanks in advance for the help!!!

Kathi