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Thread: Repotting question of Oncidium Twinkle

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  1. #1
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    Question Repotting question of Oncidium Twinkle

    Hi! About a week ago I got this tiny Twinkle 'White' and it grows in a 2 inch pot or so, I think in pure sphag moss. Im just not so good with growing in pure sphag so I'd like to know if I can repot in bark-sphagnum mix And when to repot.. Is the new growth big enough if I repot now? Technically the pot is still in the right size for it just not sure about roots. I'm still learning about growing oncidiums, as they are one of my fav orchid group.
    And would it benefit from rooftop moss (I dunno the botanical name of it)? My other oncidium ('Sweet sugar' I believe or at least I it was sold like that) has this moss on top of the pot and seems doing well..
    Also - how to water it while it is in sphag moss? For now I spray with rain water throughout and let it dry completely before to water it again, I'm so scared from oncids root rot (I've killed so many miltoniopsis in the past from root rot or drying out it too much .. though I'm not an overwaterer).
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    PS. Jeez. Why it's so difficult to add a photo to the thread from mobile?

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    ---------- Post Merged at 10:54 AM ----------

    This is the "rooftop" moss I'm talking about
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    Last edited by theflowerbread; April 1st, 2019 at 04:49 AM. Reason: Unable to add pics from mobile

  2. #2
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    Not much into Oncidiums myself but they will do fine in a media mix, you will probably have to water more then what you are doing with the sphagnum as it will dry out quicker. The top moss you see is a sign, with that kind of moss, that the media needs to be replaced as it is getting old.

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    Use a fine NOT a medium media (bark etc) if you can find some, course perlite and charcoal added would be a plus.
    Best to wait till you have some new roots visible, I can't tell from the pictures if they are new roots or not.
    Re-potting is traumatic for most orchids and they will do better if there are new roots forming, this means the plant is in a growth phase and ready for the shock of transplanting.

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    I have just purchased a Coloegyne Flaccida that has that kind of moss at the top. Why do you say that it means the media is old, JDT?

    As regards to the aspect of the plant you seem to be right. It doesn´t show new growths or roots; looks ecstatic. Two bulbs look a LITTLE bit yellow colored.

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    Quote Originally Posted by RAUL63 View Post
    I have just purchased a Coloegyne Flaccida that has that kind of moss at the top. Why do you say that it means the media is old, JDT?

    As regards to the aspect of the plant you seem to be right. It doesn´t show new growths or roots; looks ecstatic. Two bulbs look a LITTLE bit yellow colored.
    Normally old sphag will be sour, when algae grows on top it is normally, to me with my bulbos, a sign that it has absorbed more then what I want so it feeds the growth of that algae, let that algae grow and it can cut off the air circulation of your roots.

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    Thanks! To me seems there are no new root growth yet.

    ---------- Post Merged at 10:44 AM ----------

    Of course, |Im not a moss expert or anything but to me these don't look like an algae but like a moss... just a different species, not the sphagnum one.

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    I grow outside in very warm, humid conditions so the first thing I do with a new plant that has been grown in 100% sphagnum is strip out the sphagnum from around the roots and re-pot it.
    If I left it as is the roots would rot away in no time.
    What I have found works best for me for oncidiums is a mix of fine bark, charcoal and sponge rock with just a few strands of sphagnum mixed in.
    Again, you're particular growing conditions and cultural habits should dictate what you should use and sometimes, unfortunately, that can only be worked out through trial and error and experimenting a little bit.

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    @theflowerbread how did you make out with that Twinkle?
    I have several myself and find it's difficult to see new roots with the mass of roots they produce.
    One thing I've had good success with is to soak the plant I intend to re-pot for 15 - 30 minutes (or even longer) before I start working on it.
    Soak in KelpMax or some other organic kelp/fish fertilizer is better. This softens the roots so they are less prone do damage.

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