Why won't my sharry baby bloom???? - Page 2 - Orchid Board

20jlr · #11 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 03:44 PM

Can sharry baby realy take direct sun? Above it was mentioned as a sun loving plant. How about direct sun.

Wendy · #12 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 04:19 PM

Now I'm not 100% sure but I believe they can take direct sun for part of the day. Of course you must acclimatize them. I would go with either morning or late afternoon sun (or both) and shade it during mid day. I don't grow oncidiums so I hope somebody else will chime in here as well.

Ross · #13 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 04:24 PM

Don't know about this species, but other Oncidiums will take and thrive on "full sun" while in growth mode. I use the quotes because I suspect it depends on your latitude (and brightness of the sun). Here in Michigan I get very good response with full sun in a southerly window for the growth period, followed by a move away from the window for the spike period. I noticed that those folks favoring a move to bright light are from the northern latitudes. I think you need more light (judging from your pictures) JMHO. I grow a couple oncidiums and bloom them without fail. My response is based on this.

ScottMcC · #14 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 05:31 PM

well I really think that the plant that wouldn't bloom may well be a dud. the replacement has two spikes in full bloom right now, as well as a third spike that is just starting to show buds (and is new since I got it). so...if it is too little light, I'm not sure why the one is doing fine and the other didn't work, since they're growing side by side. I repotted the dud into s/h last week, and it had the most amazing root system I've ever seen, so that's certainly not the problem.

Mahon · #15 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 05:53 PM

The hybrid Oncidium Sharry Baby can in fact grow and thrive in full sun for the entire day. You may notice the leaves will develop more black spots, which is perfectly normal and harmless... the plant should be gradually introduced to more sun, and not sporadically placed in direct sun (as this may cause burn)...

-Pat

justatypn · #16 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 10:42 PM

Pat what are your thoughts on our Florida full sun, obviously not a western ray. Do or have you grown Sharry's outside directly. I place my Brsdm. Gilded Urchin 'ontario' in front of a direct east, north/west bright light and seem to be ok, but the blooms lasted 2 weeks...what gives with that?

justatypn · #17 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 10:55 PM

Sorry 20jlr, I apologize as I failed to see your one of our newest members....

aboard, its nice to see your have found your way around the OB, please take a few

s of your collection and share them in your personal gallery. What type of orchids are you growing? Don't hesitate to introduce yourself in the Introduction~Break the Ice tread...

wallyworld · #18 (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 03:09 PM

Usually the way I grow mine is I have them in a basket hanging in my vanda room where it is in the top part near the shade cloth. How mine does is the spike will come out and get quite long. It may stay like that a few days before the bracks on the spike unwind and show the flowers. My sharry baby has the leaf discoloration with the dark spots and the leaves are quite light green. I found if this happens, the plants need more nitrogen than most other plants to keep up with the photosynthsis.

Patience is the key!

Mahon · #19 (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallyworld

My sharry baby has the leaf discoloration with the dark spots and the leaves are quite light green. I found if this happens, the plants need more nitrogen than most other plants to keep up with the photosynthsis.

Woudn't you need more water to compensate for the equation of photosynthesis?

The spots on the leaves, I believe, are small areas of unimportant burning... it could be compared to a pale person sun bathing for 8 hours and a tanned person sun bathing for 8 hours... the pale-skinned person will fry and have burns, while the tanned person who has been progressively exposed to the sun, will not burn. I hope that is a good comparison, or even made a bit of sense...

-Pat

Mahon · #20 (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justatypn

Pat what are your thoughts on our Florida full sun, obviously not a western ray. Do or have you grown Sharry's outside directly. I place my Brsdm. Gilded Urchin 'ontario' in front of a direct east, north/west bright light and seem to be ok, but the blooms lasted 2 weeks...what gives with that?

I am actually unsure about the western sun... I think that an afternoon positioning of the sun beating down on top of the orchids would be of more concern then western sun.

As for your Brassidium, I have not been able to keep any of my Brassia, nor Ada in bloom for more than that time (about 2 weeks). To me, that is about normal blooming length. I am unsure as to how long other people bloom their's for...

-Pat