Sharry Baby: Too Dry?

[Highland Fashionista]

Hi again everyone,
I got this Sharry Baby off of Ebay at the beginning of the spring. It was originally in SH, and it grew well in there but our early spring and summer was so cool and damp I thought it was starting to look a bit rotty, so I put it in a regular clear plastic pot with more drainage (still in LECA) so I could have more control. A few times while I was away, it got a bit too dry (my own fault) and I came back to a somewhat desiccated-looking plant, but I resumed proper watering and it continues to grow, albeit probably not as quickly as it would have otherwise.

I have been looking on here at other Sharry Baby posts, and from what I gather, they like to stay somewhat moist with good drainage and air circulation, never getting too dry. It has been hot here, and I have been flushing the pot several times a week, although that kind of weather tends to be short-lived here in Scotland. I am wondering if I am on the right track or if I would be giving more water more consistently. The plant has gone quite yellow, although from what I understand this is not unusual for Sharry Baby (it has been really sunny here the past few weeks making the growing area very greenhouse-like. There is one large pseudobulb in the centre (the oldest one) that got wrinkled (or more wrinkled, I should say, it was always a bit wrinkled) the first time it got too dry, and two smaller ones that are in better shape (hard to see in pic). The plant also has the spotting on th elevates and bulbs that I think is not unusual for Sharry Baby.

The two greenest, smaller growths are new ones that came out since I have had the plant, and there are many new roots showing, so I guess I'm not completely off the mark.

This is my first Oncidium, and I guess I just want to hear what the more experienced among you do with your Sharry Babys.

[judith_arquette]

I just got a sharry baby this week so I'll be following your thread intently looking for tips and advice as well. Best of luck with yours!

[Highland Fashionista]

You too Judith!

[james mickelso]

Your oncid is doing quite well. I think just a shade too much light. The color isn't bad but I would like to see the new growth just a little darker green. It's not terribly important though. The pleating on the new leaves makes me think it isn't being kept moist enough (did I say that!!!???) In my experience, hydroton stays a bit dry for oncids. You have to water a bit more often. Very good drainage and good air flow through the media and that's good. Oncids have very thin numerous roots that rot easily so damp is the key. Those new growths are putting out fresh roots right now so leaf growth will start and stop. The older pbulb is wrinkling as it should. It was supplying stored starches/sugars and moisture to the new growth until they had enough root mass to support themselves. Given the correct environmental and cultural conditions will bloom at least one of these. I say one because there is little reserves of energy in this young immature cluster of growths to flower both. If you give perfect culture both may flower. With the hydroton you can probably water often as long as there is some air flow around the plant to dry it off right away. I would keep from getting water on the leaves. Fertilize weekly or even at every watering. I feed at every watering but at about 50 ppm. Use Ray's calculator. These look like very good healthy oncidiums.

[Highland Fashionista]

Excellent! That's great news James, thanks! They have been getting a lot of light lately (a fantastic stretch of weather here in Scotland) but today that seems to have come to an end. I will keep up the watering, as I think it eels to like it. the wrinkling that you mentioned on the new leaves I think is a result of the last time I went away and we had a better spell of weather than was forecast. I won't be making that mistake again. thanks for your input.

[judith_arquette]

Does getting water on the leaves cause little black spots and are they cause for concern or just cosmetic?

[LovePhals]

I don't have Sharry baby but my oncidiums seem to get little black specks on older leaves. It never really gets bad or spreads but I do get a few. Nothing to worry about unless it is excessive then you may have another issue.

[Highland Fashionista]

Obviously I'm no expert, seeing as though this is my first onc, but everything I've read seems to point to the fact that oncs seem to get these spots ...it's just a "thing". Someone I'm sure will correct me here if I'm speaking out of turn...

[mtorchid]

Yes, they probably should be called "spotted sharry baby".
Mine just finished its bloom cycle with a 3 ft long spike of about 65 flowers with that amazing milk-chocolate scent. It is in LECA, too, but in a semi-hydro environment.

When you opted for "more control" it comes at the cost of having to water more frequently with the added drainage holes. If you have to be gone for a while, you might try putting the culture pot inside a larger pot or higher-sided saucer, that way (semi-hydro) moisture will wick up through the LECA and do the watering for you. Maybe an inch of so of standing water. When you return, you could resume your more hands-on (top-down) routine. Since it's in LECA, you may as well let it work its evaporative (bottom-up) magic for you when needed.

[Highland Fashionista]

WOW. That is a gorgeous plant. And that is an excellent idea about putting it in another container. I am actually thinking I may go back to SH when it is time to repot. I have a heat mat I can always put it on in the wintertime if the weather is uncooperative, which it invariably will be here in Scotland. I think I just panicked and didn't give it the benefit of the doubt before.