Oncidium help-- Sherry baby sick?
 

Can anyone help me determine what is going on with my Sherry baby. I have 2 new bulbs popping out but they dont look very healthy to me. The leaves are dry or burnt @ the tips and look "mottled" everywhere else. I fertilze with 1/4 strength 20-20-20 every time I water and that happens about every 10 days. I live in oregon. Any suggestions would be great... dunno, maybe this is normal. thanks.

The second picture is a close up between the old bulbs... it looks like rot but I cant be watering this guy enough for it to be rotting... at least I dont think so. Any thoughts on this would be helpful also... Im wondering if the two photos are symptoms of the same problem.

Any help would be great

Hitransplant,

I think that Sharry Baby has a bit of history as far as the spotting is concerned. I have grown more than a few, all of which have had some spotting to some degree or another. The spotting can be a result of too much light or maybe its too hot. The pictures you posted suggest it also might be bacterial, does the plant get good air movement or do you use any type of fungicide/bacterial treatment?

How often do you flush the pot with just clean water?

Looks like it could really use to be repotted.

I would say that the plant gets fair air movement. There is no fan on it but it is in the center of the room with people whizzing by all day. I do not use any regular fungicide or antibiotic type treatments. Is this something that would help? Thanks for your help.

Ray--

Potted up or just new material? Also, I asked this question of the nursery I bought it from and they told me I should wait until the plant is overgrowing the pot... Im thinking they may have meant as long as the plant is healthy. Is this something that would help the icky looking roots? Thanks for your help.

Lastly... Besides flushing prior to fertilizing each time, I would say that I just flush every 4 waterings or so.

Your wood chips are rotting. I think that the orchid needs to be repotted. Be sure to clean the plant up before putting it back in a pot. Remove dead roots also.

Thanks oh mighty king of orchid growing... sorry, couldnt resist.

Thats kinda what I thought too... strangely the nursery where I bought it from, which is reputable, told me to wait to repot. I think, however, they didnt have a good image of the roots and planting material.

any tips on what type of medium/mix to use for this variety would be helpful.

I agree with the nursery's advice, it is the same advice I would give to my customers. The plant does not need re-potting and can last in that pot for quite a while longer.

I grow hundreds of Sharry Baby each year and there is nothing unusual in the photos you posted.

Sharry Baby have generic characteristics that make them susceptible to fungal spots and poor leaves. Fortunately this does not hurt the plant but they can get to be ratty looking leaves. The flowers make up for it.