new and need help with sharry baby orchid

[mandalynn08]

hi all. i just got my first orchid for my birthday, its a sharry baby and i absolutely love it. but i am not sure how to take care of it. this is what im doing now... its in my bathroom with the door closed ( i have two cats that are very curious about it and i dont want them to eat it). i leave the light on for the day and turn it off at night. its on rocks with water not touching the bottom of the planter. there are small roots comming out of the planter that are slightly brown on the ends. i did knock it over once but it didnt seem to hurt it. but now the flowers are starting to die. i could use all the help i can get... thanks

[gerneveyn]

I don't have any experience with oncidiums. But go to the American Orchid Society website aos.org and look at the oncidium culture sheet.

[arleneg]

Mandalynn08, welcome to the forum!

I have an Onc. Sharry baby, too...love it! Does your bathroom have windows? I'm asking because of the light being left on during the day and turned off at night. Plus, (assuming you don't have an east, south or west facing window) if you're using just regular bathroom light, the orchid isn't getting the proper lighting conditions. Since I don't have experience in using artificial lighting, I'm sure someone who is will chime in.

Now assuming you have a window in your bathroom, make sure your orchid is getting bright, diffused lighting (2500-4000 fc). An east or south window will do best. West is doable.

One thing great about Onc. is that they will grow even in low humidity (as low as 30%). Of course, the higher humidity you can give, the better. I've been succesful with growing one in 30%-50% humidity environment.

Water your onc early in the morning, so roots will dry by evening. In warm/hot weather, I water mine every other day or two. In cool/winter weather, I water every 7-10 days.

I'd type more, but have to get my little one ready for bed. Anything I missed, someone will fill in.

HTH.

[mandalynn08]

thanks for the info... no i dont have any windows in my bathroom. the only natural light i have is in my dinning room facing the east. it gets pretty humid in my bathroom with the door closed, and i turn on the bathroom fan a few times a day to get the air circulating. the lighting in my bathroom consists of 4 40-60 watt natural light bulbs... you know the ones they show on tv where the regular light gives off a yellow hue but these give off just light no strange color. are there lights that i can just screw into the light sockets that will provide the proper light needed for it to grow?

[mandalynn08]

my orchid also has little brow spots on some of the leaves.... the new growth where i think a shoot will be comming from and one of the big leaves... but not on all of them. there is also a white film on some of the bark.

[arleneg]

There are no lights that you can just replace your current ones in the bathroom. From what I've read, the light source must be really close to the orchid for it to work. I strongly suggest moving your Onc. near the east window of your dining room and placing it on a humidity tray with gravel and water (should not touch bottom of pot). In addition, mist your Onc. in the morning. This will help a little with increasing humidity.

By the way, it will be helpful if you add your location in your profile. This way, we can better help you.

[desertgal]

May I suggest getting a clip on light with a large reflector (you will find one in the hardware section of your favorite big box store). Put a 150 watt flourescent light bulb in it. The kind that is curled. It uses 30 watts of power but gives 150 watts of light. Place it directly over your plant. If you have nothing to clip it to you can hang it. In addition set your plant in a humidity tray. I use a pot saucer with a layer of stones or marbles so that the plant sits above the water. The evaporation of the water gives the plant additional humidity.
Katie

[arleneg]

Katie, that's a good idea. I didn't think about a clip on light.

Does a 150 flourescent light give out, at least, 2500 fc?

[desertgal]

Hi.....it gives out 2400 lumens. At least my 100 watt bulbs say that they give out 1600 lumens. I am assuming that all brands are the same.
Katie

[jerrymeola]

A few things.

Light levels are critical for a Sharry baby to bloom. Around 2000-2500 not much more or the leaves will brown at the tips.

It is not so critical to keep the plant healthy over the winter. They bloom only once a year at the end of the summer.

A higher level of light is still preferred for the winter. but you should find a shady spot to put it outside this summer.

If you want to use additional lights inside you should look for higher level lights. The 1000 watt lights that use about 100 watts of electric are about right. They are hard to find except on the INTERNET.

A 150 light bulb has to be too close and the heat is then a problem.

[Daniel S. Barrett]

www.Hydrofarm.com has screw in flouressent bulbs for plants, they can be expensive, but, they claim to be able to grow any orchid under them. Also you mentioned tiny spots on the leaves of your Sherry baby that looks like it's been splashed or sprayed?, this seems to be normal for Sherry's, mine has them on all the leaves. It seems to be normal pattern coloration. under some types of grow lights they'll look purple!
The white film on the bark is probably fertilizer residue if it's crusty, you can do what most folks do, either ignore it until it's time to repot, or just repot, (but not until after the plant has finished blooming!!)...You can also try this tip....Soak the pot, plant roots, bark and all in tempid water & white vinegar & a small squirt of dish detergent, (1/2 cup vinegar per 1 gal h2o) Sink the pot in the water until you've covered the bark with the water. soak for aprox 45-60 minutes, then run tempid water through the pot & all over the bark until it's rinsed very very well! The vinegar water will disolve a light mineral residue. for severe deposits repot the plant immediately.

[agarrat]

Well I live in the tropics... I have had a Sherry baby for 5 years.... got 2 other plants off it also from repotting... This plant will grow in a robust on under the correct conditions..... The plants loves light, however the trick is not to give it to much, because the leaves get burnt and will drop off...When watering let plant almost dry out..and fertilze during growth period...potting mix? I have noticed sherry baby perfer a fine mix, because of thee fine roots...mine loves coconut husk

[Sherrie]

I have a Sherry Baby that has bloomed(not blooming anymore) now I have noticed that it has small drops of water along the stem that had the blooms on it. I have several orchids sitting together and they are on a tray of pebbles for humidity. They are sitting by a window but there is a heat register on the floor below them. I keep large bowls of water on the register for humidity. Are these drops of water normal or is this a bad thing. If anyone can help...Thanks.