Sharry Baby 911

[Fedora]

My poor Red Fantasy is dying a very slow death at my hands, I need help!
I bought it in 2007 as a large seedling. I can't bear to have it die on me now.

I'm pretty positive it's a watering problem, but I'd like a better opinion, and possibly some tips.

Honestly, I don't know how little/often it needs to be watered. I just water it with my Phal.
Meaning about every other week, with a weak fertalizer mix. It's in a pot with the lower half of fine bark mulch, and the upper of sphagnum moss.

The signs:
New growth comes out wrinkled, the p-bulbs are thin and hard (dried out?)
Last time I looked at the roots I had to trim off 3/4 of them, because they were so dead dry.

[Nic100]

Hi Fedora! I don't know much about Oncs as I've only had mine over the past year, and I'm sure someone with more knowledge will chip in - but in the mean time - I water all of my Oncs much more frequently than my Phals, definitely. I had problems with pleated leaves on all my new growths but on the 3 newest growths none of them have wrinkling. I'm fairly certain the only thing I've changed is my watering schedule.

Like I say - someone else will have more specific info.

Good luck, hope things improve!

[WhiteRabbit]

Might be under-watered. Pix would be helpful. Accordian pleating can be caused by too little water, or rotted roots caused perhaps by too much water. A repot can never hurt. I have skewers in all my orchid pots to help determine when to water. Oncidiums generally do not want to dry out, and probably need more frequent watering than Phals. But hard to say if it's potted in sphag.

I don't know if you have previously re-potted this plant? Sphag should be replaced annually - it breaks down quickly.

I have Oncidiums potted in either fine coconut husk chips with perlite, or fine orchid bark mix. Depending on the season, weather, size of pot, they may get watered once a week (bigger plastic pots with coconut husk chips in cool damper weather) to at least twice a week in summer - can be more often in summer, as it can be very dry in summer where I live.

[Lady Tottington]

I water my oncs. about as often as White Rabbit, once every 3-5 days or so, and a good soaking too, watering the bark under the faucet and then putting it in an old ice cream bucket to soak those wood chips a little while while I go pick up my other orchids from around the house for their trip to the sink. Mine are planted in a bark that I got from Lowe's that is B and something, B&E? It's got lots of pieces of all kinds of good looking stuff that looks like it would make them look happy. I re-potted mine when I first got them, and they seem to be chugging right along with new growths and happy leaves.

Don't give up, you'll be able to make it thrive! : ))))

[Fedora]

Thanks guys!

I'll try to get pics up by tomorrow, it's embarassing how bad it looks.

As for watering, the tap water here isn't useable, so it's been getting distilled water, Letting it sit in the water for a little while will also save me some water for the phal.
I've gotta get a rain barrel with a screen. :P

I guess I can attest to how hardy Sharry baby can be!

[mojomick]

I moved my Red Fantasy into semi hydroponic culture several years ago as I just couldn't keep it happy. This month it has 12 spikes each at least 3 foot tall and hundreds if not a thousand blooms. I have it just outside my patio sliding door and the smell is heavenly when you walk outside. My other Onc. love SH as well. Betty

[Tropicgirl]

I've been switching out most of my orchids to s/h and they are thriving! And it takes the guess work out of watering, which for me is heaven s(c)ent!

[thakshila smith]

Here we live in tropical country I water them every other day.
Do you live in a wet place? Or in a winer area?
I guess it needs more moisture. We are not afraid with water bec we get 12 hours sun shine.