First Onc. and it's a (Sharry) Baby

[Phyrex]

A local flower store had recently (April) changed owner and I've been helping her with some orchid related querries she had. Today, as a token of appreciation she asked me if I wanted to adopt this Onc. Sharry Baby (pretty sure it is a Sharry Baby although it doesn't have a tag). Who could refuse such a wonderful gesture..

It's in a 5" pot right now in pure sphag. Since I'm not really a fan of sphag (to put it lightly) I've put some fine bark with perlite and charcoal bucket to soak overnight so I can repot this guy tomorrow. I've read up on Oncs since I was planning on getting one soon, however, I could still use some general help regarding the specific culture of the Sharry Baby. I have a pot that's slightly bigger than the one it's in now so it should have ample space for the new growth (see picture) to mature.

I guess you can be expecting some more Onc. related questions soon

[kfir from israel]

first-this is beutiful orchid that produce lovely fragrence of chocolet-good for you
about the orchid:
give care just like the rest of your onc........i have 2 of`em in 2 difrent var.
this is the strongest onc-bloom each year like an animal and grow real nice(produce lots of bulb`s each year).
if you ask me-i wouldnt put any perlite at all.....actualy nothing is better than sphagnum
just like the rest of the onc. it like to almost dry out betwin the waterings
enjoy the new onc-show us the next bloom
k

[JUDIUK]

It would have been rude to say no! What a lovely gesture. (and nice plant!)

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Richard!

It is a healthy plant and is a Sharry Baby! Congratulations. Here is a copy paste from our Oncidium Grower's Care guide.

Light Requirements:

1500 - 2000 footcandles

A bright kitchen window with no direct sun is perfect for these medium-light loving lants.

Temperature:

70 - 90 degrees F. daytime, 60 - 65 degrees F. night.

Humidity:

40 - 65 % relative humidity is ideal.

Notes:

In general, Oncidiums and the intergeneric hybrids produced with them form sprays sometimes over four feet long of tiny, often yellow or pink-tinted flowers that can make quite a show. Almost all are fragrant. They grow quickly, and it is not unusual for new pseudobulbs to stair-step their way out of a pot, throwing thin roots everywhere. These can be misted with fertilizer solution diluted from 1/3 to 1/2 strength each time the pot is watered.

Oncidiinae appreciate good air movement. Plants that receive sufficient light to flower often exhibit scores of tiny brown spots on the leaves and their leaf-tips frequently turn yellow. The leaves themselves can be quite brittle and will split naturally during normal growth, so the foliage is usually not considered particularly attractive. Equitant oncidiums can be difficult, as they require a cool spell at the end of the growing season to initiate the next years flowering.

Cheers,
BD

[Molly Taco]

It's a beauty and OH the fragrance !!!!
Cin

[hera]

I had one that came in spag, that I put in bark and charcol, that I then put back in bark, charcol and spag mixed. It wasn't happy in just bark and now is producing new growth like crazy. My house is low humidity so this works best as well as a humidity tray.

[Ron-NY]

Richard, I have mine in bark mix and grow mine brighter than in BD's recommendations 2000-2500 fc estimate You look like you have the 'tricolor' clone like mine...my fav clone. Years ago when I grew this at home, I had it in front of a western exposure glass slider for the winter and outdoors for the summer

[kfir from israel]

ron-thats truth!!!!
mine grow in 2000-3000 with happyness

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Richard, I have mine in bark mix and grow mine brighter than in BD's recommendations 2000-2500 fc estimate ...

ron-thats truth!!!!
mine grow in 2000-3000 with happyness

Well, I have tried growing them at brighter levels and the spotting is more apparent, so I grow my oncids between 1500 and 2000 with fairly good success. The only sharry baby I have in bloom today is the Onc. Sharry Baby 'Yellow Panda' clone. Take a look at the blooms and the foliage and then decide for yourself. This is a young plant, but has bloomed twice before. I have grown it from a three inch pot up into this 6 inch one.







Cheers,
BD

[Becky15349]

Looks like we all grow our Sharry babies just a little differently!! I actually just got one, and when it stopped blooming, I put it in S&H. My other oncids love S&H, so I'm hoping this one will too :-)