Sharry Baby with shriveled bulbs!

[alanarez]

I'm new to growing orchids, so please bear with me.

I bought a Sharry Baby about 5 months ago. It was slightly shriveled then, but I thought it was normal..

In trying to learn to grow my plants, I went from overwatering, to underwatering, and these creases deepened. Will it ever plump back up? Also, there's a brown patch on the tip of leaf. What is that?

[cindiras]

Brown patch may have been caused by fertilizer burn. It does not look like it could be sunburn. My Sharry Baby is sitting in a south bow window, no curtains or shades so I have to keep an eye out for sunburn signs.

[Phyrex]

Old p-bulbs shrivel, however, new ones shouldn't. It might be underwatered as these plants require more water than the normal Phalaenopsis. The p-bubls can recover but it takes time. The plant looks healthy overall though so I wouldn't worry too much. Just make sure that the medium nearly never dries out.

[nevinsp]

The leaves are delicate. A few of mine split and the tips did turn brown. I don't think you have anything to worry about there.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

It looks healthy. There may be some root problems or you may be under - watering it, but the new growth should come in and not be shriveled. The overall plant looks healthy and happy. Since it is being back lit by the window, I am not able to get a good read on the actual color of green of the leaves. They should appear a very light, almost yellow-green color. If they are very dark green, it is not getting enough light and will not bloom for you.

Best of luck!

Cheers,
BD

[alanarez]

Thank you

The leaves aren't dark, but they aren't as light as you described. Although I just moved it into that plant hangar in a different, better lit room. The room has 2 east windows, and one west facing. Hopefully that'll provide enough light.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Thank you

The leaves aren't dark, but they aren't as light as you described. Although I just moved it into that plant hangar in a different, better lit room. The room has 2 east windows, and one west facing. Hopefully that'll provide enough light.

No worries, you just want them to be a bright, healthy green and in no time you will have a spike. Do you fertilize this and your other orchids?

Cheers,
BD

[JoeW]

Alana, shriveled pseudobulbs may result from several causes. The plant may be under watered so the orchid is living off stored moisture. The roots may have died and the orchid is living off the stored moisture. The pseudobulb is old and it is no longer viable. What is the orchid potted in (fir bark mixture, sphagnum moss)? Can you check the root structure for us? Joe

[alanarez]

I do fertilize them, every time I water, but at less than half strength. I think I did burn my plants one time, though... I used a different brand/type, recommended "for all plants", and a 6" baby shoot off my African Queen browned up and fell off, and my Twinkles just about kicked it, too. Lesson learned!

The sharry baby is potted in some kind of chunky material with sphag on top. I can't get it out of the pot, but from what I can see, the roots are healthy and white.

[JoeW]

Good root structure. Well, drat. I'm no help here. Never mind.