Generally speaking, spring time when temperatures are warmer and the plant is putting out new growth.

Ditto, you want to be sure you have strong root growth getting ready to occur or already happening to sustain the orchid through the stress of repotting. Generally speaking for most Oncidium species that would be in the spring when you see new growth emerge. New growth is generally the sign of new roots.

I found that my oncidium needed lots more water than other orchids, so I used a small bark mixture that would hold more moisture.

My oncidium is putting out white roots all of a sudden into the air. But should I wait until Spring to divide and repot?

Again, waiting until spring is the general guideline but not all orchids in the Oncidium family fall into that category. The important thing is the root growth. If you have root growth then generally speaking it's safe to pot.

One question though, could the root growth be due to the warm nature of weather we've been having making the orchid believe it's spring and time for roots? I don't know where you're writting from, but that would be true of where I am located. We just got our first dip into the 30's and snow and my roots have been growing like crazy. I suspect they shall slow down finally.

Hi Paul,

I'm in Southern California, Orange County. My orchid is putting out these white roots. This is a "bulb" that has grown outside the potting mix and onto the side of the pot, which is why the roots are growing up in the air. It's a "pup" of another bulb next to it.

My inlaws who live in Oceanside, have an almond tree that has TONS of blooms on it, thinking it's spring because of the unusually warm weather we've been having. That tree is so confused so maybe that is what is wrong with my Orchid, it's confused, thinking it's spring... lol

Up here in Mass, my plants think it's spring every other couple of days after temps drop to the single digits..lol

Yesterday 8 degrees, and by Monday, 50..

Good luck. I have one doing the same thing in a very tight pot. The people here are great. It will be fine:-)

Mike

{{gwi:138983}}

Hello there, I have the same problem with a newly acquired Oncidium Orchid. It has many bulbs (shriveled) with lots and lots of white roots about a foot long off several of the tubers(bulbs?). Do I separate these bulbs from the main plant and repot them? Would I just shove the roots, length and all, into the potting medium?

I found that when Oncidium is growing like it looks in the picture above, its best to pull it out of the pot.
Cut the pot to release the orchid completely and the bulbs will naturally separate, or you can cut some roots to create two plants. Give it a good watering cause its not getting enough all squashed in that pot, that's why the bulbs are shriveled.

Its worked for me a few times especially if your growing in a warm bright spot, they recover very quick.
You can put it in a bigger pot but you still have to pulled it out and separate the roots.