Onc Sharry Baby: Spike dying?

[ces797]

I just got this Oncidium 'Sharry Baby' last weekend and it had one flowering spike that was fading and one new spike. I cut the flowering spike the other day as the flowers were dropping off and now I'm noticing the new spike is browning at the tip. Does this mean the spike will not flower?

Sorry the pictures are not so clear, my camera is difficult with close-up shots.

Also...to note this guy is in a 4" pot with 6 PB's so it's crowded. So much that I can barely see the medium. I have watered it once since I brought it home last Saturday.

[CoolPhrog]

Unfortunately, ces, it looks like your spike is blasting. It's not unusual for this to happen when the weather temps are all over the place like they have been lately. But not to worry, the plant will probably generate a new one for you soon!

Keep us posted

[ces797]

oh darn
okay thanks Dana
It looks like all the PB's have already flowered except one new growth which is still pretty small. I was probably going to repot this guy sometime soon anyway so I guess now is as good of a time as any.

[CoolPhrog]

I would hold off on the repot idea for now....if your Baby is going to start sending out spikes, repotting my interrput the blooming cycle.

[ces797]

oh really?
well the only PB that hasn't spiked yet is still small (doesn't even have yet what resembles a PB) all the rest of the PB's have flowered
Onc's don't spike more than once from the same PB do they?

[camille1585]

I'll vote the other way, I think it's fine to repot now. I've repotted spiking/blooming plants before and never had any problems. And if the pot is really too small now you're going to have trouble keeping up with watering since the roots will suck the medium dry in no time.
As for spiking, yes they can send up more than one spike per bulb, one spike on each side. But they'll come up together rather than at separate times. In the case of yours that's blasting that spike, that might be different. If the plant really wants to bloom, the nubbin on the other side of the bulb might wake up and start growing!

[ces797]

oh wow thanks Camille, I did not know that.
Sorry to keep asking questions but I actually just got back from the local conservatory that sells orchid supplies to get some mix and the one they recommended for Onc's said general purpose on it and it had a picture of a Cattleya...is just fir bark, perlite and charcoal...chunks are about medium size. Is that right? I would think with the smaller roots they would want something more in line with Dendrobium/Paph mix

[camille1585]

I'm not sure about the medium. But I personally grow all my oncidium type plants in fine fir bark, because they seem to like always being a little bit damp. But it may be because of how I water. I err on the side of underwatering, so a more moisture retentive mix is better in my case.

[ces797]

yeah that makes sense
i may do 50/50 with med and fine size bark
i keep this onc with my catt's which i tend to underwater as well so i probably shouldn't go all fine bark....thanks for all the advice guys!