AboutWayne King Expertise Any question about orchid culture. I have thirty+ yrs of growing experience,president 2x of our local Orchid Growers Guild,held a position in most all other offices associated with the Guild at one time or another. Head of Orchid judging team for local club meetings and some shows. Member of two Orchid Socities and local Rep.for Mid America Orchid Congress for several yrs.I have in my collection about 800 Orchid plants of all types.
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Past/Present clients Previously an expert on expertcentral.com.
Question I have a large Sharry Baby plant ( oncidium ) , this will be its 4 th year in my care and its putting out 1 spike this year. It has many large pseudobulbs and alot of shaggy ugly leaves. I've cut back some old leaves so young growth can get light and to unclutter the plant . Even if I repot it next year , what do I do with those big old pseudobulbs.The plant is healthy I have it on a south patio under a sun umbrella in San diego, mist it most mornings , water 1 x wk with de-ionized water from aquarium store and use little bit of shultz's orchid food , occasionally bloom booster orchid food .
Answer Jerry, as you may be aware, pseudobulbs serve a couple of functions: storage of valuable nutrients to be used for future growth and "eyes" at its base which give rise to new growth. As the plant grows in the number of pseudobulbs, some of the older pseudobulbs may die. They turn brown and lose substance and contribute nothing to the plant and may be removed-- although they may be attached to healthy paeudobulbs.
Of course, if the plant is larger than you like, you may divide it into two or more plants as long as each has three or four healthy pseudobulbs to support future growth. Best time to do that is when you have new growth. You clearly have taken good care of this plant. Leaves on these heavy duty oncidiums can become unsightly. By removing the worst you will not jeapordize the plant's health. If you decide to remove some of these leafless pseudobulbs, remove three or four interconnected bulbs and pot them up as separate plants. When they start new growth you can give them to friends. The chocolate fragrance of this plant can be a great joy when in flower.
