Care of Onc. Sharry Baby orchid

[dml718]

New to orchids, but couldn't resist this chocolate smelling orchid. It's been 2 months now and all the flowers are dried and falling off.

Do I prune the stalks back or let them stay the same size? The stalks look healthy enough--just flowerless.

Is this considered a dormant period for the orchid? Should I continue to water the orchid throughtout the winter period (even tho I live in So. CA)?

Thanks for any help.

[orchidaddict789]

What do you mean by the "stalks"?

Flower spikes (flower stems) should be cut off near the base after all the flowers have dropped off.

Or do you mean the pseudobulb (a bulb-like growth with one or two leaves at the top and a set of leaves near the bottom)? Don't cut that off! That's the only way the plant can grow and produce future pbulbs--from the old existing ones. Newer pbulbs can give you more flowers.

Onc. Sharry Baby is one of the easiest and most popular oncidiums, they are great for beginners! Easy to rebloom if you give it enough light--mine bloomed once this year.

Orchids may put out new growth (growth period) or just sit there doing nothing (you can call it dormant if you want). Oncs don't actually get "dormant", they don't lose their leaves or anything. Of course, water! Oncidiums need water all throughout their lives, and if you don't water for a whole winter, it's going to die of dryness. Just water less, keeping slightly on the dry side when the onc isn't growing.

[Dave]

dml718 being new to orchids you picked an excellent one! I love the smell of this orchid. I have a very large living room and when its in bloom I can smell it from all the way across the room. This happens only during the day time, as at night time it doesn't seem to smell as much.

[orchidaddict789]

I find the smell to be strongest during the morning and afternoon. Almost disappears in late evenings/nights. Interesting, huh?

It's one of my favorite orchids!

[Dave]

I think the smell during the day has to do with attracting insects...at night time it doesn't need to smell because the insects are sleeping. This of course is my own theory.

[phillipinmissouri]

hi guys(and gal)new here and just perusing,yes I also think sharry blooms draw their pollinators during the day.I have an epiphylium that blooms at night though and also has a fragrant bloom which is not common for this plant.hope to chat more with you soon.,
phil

[Sunny]

Sharry Baby is, in my opinion, the best orchid to start out with. I started out with two catt seedlings my boyfriend (now husband) bought me. It took two years to get them to bloom, and in the meantime I bought Sharry Baby Sweet Fragrance because I wanted SOMETHING in bloom.

Sharry Baby is my easiest orchid to grow and bloom. Right now Im enjoying FOUR spikes covered in flowers in my living room on this now HUGE plant. The room smells like chocolate.

Sharry Baby will grow quickly and spike easily. Ive had mine for a year and a half and it started out with one bulb, and now I have 8. Its size could be a problem in the future. I dont think this plant takes much work, and is tough to kill. I dont think it matters if you cut the spikes or not. Below are some things I do with mine:

1. Give it lots of light. I give it as much light as my cattleyas. It will spot. The leaves will freckle. There may even be a few brown spots. None of this will hurt the plant. My plant receives full morning sun for several hours outside in Sunny CA in zone 24 (We never get frost). It gets dappled sun the rest of the day.

2. Let it dry out a little between waterings. Dont keep it sopping wet. I use small orchid bark/medium sponge bark layered with some New Zealand spagnam moss. Because my plant is SO big, I have white non melting packing peanuts layered on the bottom, to ensure drainage and make sure the plant dries out more evenly. You dont need the peanuts till the plant gets really big. I water when an inserted skewer comes out dry. Outside, this is a few times a week. I think if your plant is inside, it might take longer to dry out.

3. Once in a while in the spring, I water the plant with water mixed with a teaspoon of epsom salts. If my plant starts looking yellowy, I water with the epsom salts and then the following several waterings I increase the regular fertizer in the waterings. I think this plant is a fertilizer hog. However, right now, your plant might be resting so I wouldnt fertilize it till it started putting out new growths at the base of the bulbs.

Good luck with Sharry baby.

[Tsepina77]

I keep reading how easy it Sharry babies are, and I haven't seen mine bloom in nearly 2 years! I moved it outside thinking it needed more sun; now I have it in the basement under artificial light (It's been dropping to around 30 in the last few days). It has new growth, but what am I doing wrong? I water & fertilize it when the little bamboo stick is dry, and I live in Savannah, GA. Please help.

Tsepina77, you might be letting the plant dry out too much. Oncidiums like lots of water. Try watering again when the stick is still damp.