Looks like some type of oncidium orchid(s) and quite a few of them. If it were me and they were all of the same type or from the same plant, I'd pot up 4-5 of the healthiest looking clumps (most bulbs and roots) in 4" pots of either spaghnum moss or a fine orchid bark mix and water when dry (usually between 5 to 10 days apart).

If they are all different, I'd pot them all up individually (without breaking any apart) in 3"-4" pots the same as above.

These orchids like bright light, so a very bright east window or a partially shaded south or west window should work best. Keep 'em pretty close (@6") to the glass if possible.

Hope this helps and good luck,

Bob

Thank you very much. Is it the leaf shape that identifies it as possibly an oncidium? The woman who gave them to me said the flowers were yellow, so that seems to fit with what I just read about oncidiums (oncidia?).

I'm pretty sure they are all the same. I haven't taken them out of this bowlish-pot yet to examine the root system, but I'm assuming they are all attached somehow. It's very helpful to have a recommendation as to pot size.

I assume I should repot them so the leaves are more upright than they currently are. Is that right?

Thank you very much.
Susan

Susan,

Here's the link: {{gwi:139799}}
From what I can see they are not potted at all, looks like they were put 'bare-root' into the bowl. I think you have 10-20 smaller plants/divisions in the bowl. Pick out the ones with the most and plumbest bulbs with lots of white roots as the ones to try and keep. You can try to plant all of them in pots, but thats a lot of work for the same plant x 10 or 20.

Yes, repot them so they stand straight and tall and are buried in 'orchid mix' up to the bottom of the bulbs covering all of the roots.

Bob

Wow, lucky you! That is a LOT of orchids! Look like Oncidium to me as well. I agree with Bob's advice, I would pot them up in a bark mix if they were mine, ASAP, taking the nicer clumps, and maybe giving away the smaller ones. I see some nice healthy roots, which will need some water before long. Good luck with them.

Christopher

Many thanks to both of you!

The woman who gave them to me thought they were Phalaenopsis, so I bought Phalaenopsis mix at Home Depot. Actually, that's the only thing they had! Do you think that will be OK if they are Oncidiua? (I explored under the plants after Bob said they looked bare-root. Turns out, they seem to be in regular potting mix.

I just ordered some orchid pots from rePotme.com. Hopefully they will arrive soon.

They could be Oncidiums, could be Oncidium Intergenerics all lumped together as the Oncidiinae sub-tribe but do not worry about that stuff. Just get them potted and hopefully you will see a flower or two in due course.

Susan, I think the Phalaenopsis potting mix will work just fine. It is common, as like 90% of the orchids sold today are Phalaenopsis, or so I read. But I prefer the orchids with pseudobulbs, like Oncidium and Cattleya. Everyone has their favourites.

Christopher

I have 3 pots of this alliance at home, i'm just outside of Detroit, full sun in an unfiltered South window, they get watered once a week and outside in almost full sun for the summer. They'll be perfect for you!

I'm hoping an east-facing window will do. It would be dangerous to put them in our south-facing window. That is because they would become a target for our younger dog's toy, which gets thrown in that direction for in-door fetch! It is also the window both dogs stand at to bark at the joggers going by.

Thanks again to all. What a wonderful forum!

I was given a similar looking clump of Onc sphacelatum by someone tired of the hobby. Found a substantial log with 2 branches spreading out from the main trunk. Hard to explain but the three pronged mount created a saddle into which I dropped the whole mess. No need for ties, it just sits there. That was 3 years ago, the plant has since then firmly established itself and looks very natural.

You have on Onc there which has gotten used to being outside a pot, it would be a shame to stuff it into a pot and cover the roots with bark. I would mount it as is and wait a couple of years to see what it does. Mexico is bone dry in the winter, water it very sparingly right now then hit it hard and often in spring to fall.

Nick

Nick,

Seems like risky behavior for someone from Mass., growing indoors by a window and this is thier first orchid. Maybe if Susan had a greenhouse or could keep them outdoors, but that's not the case here...

To each thier own, but I still say "pot 'em up".

Bob

I was just replying to Nick, that outdoors is not an option here, when Bob's reply popped up!

Also, they are sort of in soil now. There's a new photo on PhotoBucket that shows this.

http://s292.photobucket.com/albums/mm39/luckyladyslipper/?action=viewät=IMG_0088.jpg

So I'm glad to know Bob still thinks potting (in phal mix, not soil) is a reasonable option. My orchid pots arrive tomorrow.

I agree, I just looked at this thread for the first time and did not realize he's in the frozen NE.

Nick