Sharry baby won't bloom.

[Sharlynn]

I have a sharry baby that I ordered online but has not bloomed yet for me. It is blooming size and healthy but just puts out new growth.How to get it to bloom?

[silken]

Can you give us some more info?? And maybe a picture. What kind of pot and media are you using. What kind or light, temps. Watering and feeding practices. Has it bloomed before?

[Sharlynn]

I have it on the windowsill and it gets light.It has bloomed once before I received it on line.

[silken]

Originally Posted by Sharlynn

I have it on the windowsill and it gets light.It has bloomed once before I received it on line.

How about some cultural info as requested and what kind of light. North window is very much different from a south window for example.

[sruther4d]

Given my experience of 3 years with my 2 Sharry Baby's, both are late fall, early winter bloomers. This past year one opened up around end of Nov., the other Christmas week. They usually bloom once a year but I get lucky sometimes because one of them is blooming again now.

I have seen some posts from growers who have waited a couple of years before they bloom. My advice, be patient and it will reward you with a bloom.

[RandomGemini]

It depends on how long you've had it. Is it growing new pseudobulbs? It won't spike without them. At least, mine don't. My Sharry Baby is in bud right now. These types do tend to bloom once a year. I'll be surprised if I see a fall or winter bloom from mine, just because it's blooming off of the newest mature pseudobulb, so if you aren't seeing new growth like that, it's probably caused by the most common problem. Not enough light. I have mine sitting right up under my t5s. These plants can take quote a lot of light.

[BettyE]

Originally Posted by Sharlynn

I have a sharry baby that I ordered online but has not bloomed yet for me. It is blooming size and healthy but just puts out new growth.How to get it to bloom?

when the new growths are almost mature, start giving it 10-30-20 once a week... 1/4 teaspoon to a gallon of water ), along with higher light. This has never failed for me. BettyE.

[cbuchman]

For many in the oncidium alliance, a dose of calcium will initiate spikes! I heard a great story from a famous orchids person (who shall rename nameless) who was consulting for one of the mass growers and applied calcium to several greenhouses to prove his point. A few weeks later, the growers had thousands and thousands of oncdiiums in spike and couldn't move them out for sale fast enough!

I add Magi-Cal to my feeding during the growth months (Mar-Oct) and will also use oyster shells as a top dressing for some orchids.

[RandomGemini]

I started using pulverized egg shells in mine. I chuck them in the blender and then sprinkle them over the pots.

[Raqsharqi]

Would bone meal or dolomite work?