Why won't my sharry baby bloom????

[ScottMcC]

I bought it in spike in Jun. At that time, the spike was about 28 inches long. Throughout Jun and July, the spike grew to about 35 inches long, and the nodes started to swell a little bit, as though buds were going to burst out any minute.

Since then, it has stagnated. The spike is still pleasantly green, just not developing further. The plant itself has grown significantly during this interval, and the 3 new growths that were just starting when I got it are almost mature now.

I have this plant sitting next to my cattleyas in a SW facing window, temps 70-80 daytime, sl cooler at night, humidity 50-70%, still in the fine bark mix and plastic pot in which it came, fertilize with MSU at 125 ppm every watering.

Any suggestions, other than just being patient???? I'm about to just give up and transplant it into s/h, since all my other s/h plants grow so well. It is actively growing new roots now--the only thing holding me back is I'm nervous about repotting while it's in spike.

[Phantasm]

It's unusual for a spike to form and not produce any flowers. It sounds like it is growing just fine, you need to have a bit of patience. My guess is that you will have blooms in the winter/early spring.

[ScottMcC]

Here's some pictures, taken today.

Am I just impatient????

[ScottMcC]

And here's two pictures from when I bought it, along with one from one month later:

[Mahon]

It looks like you have a little while of waiting... I have seen this hybrid growing in full sun, but I guess it can be grown in almost any conditions... really adaptable hybrid with a great chocolate/vanilla scent...

-Pat

[cneos]

What I think I am seeing in today's photos are the beginnings of branching; the branches eventually turn away from the main inflorescence, grow several centimeters long and bear many buds. Be patient - in four to six weeks, you should have a spectacular display!

[Paul]

How moist are you keeping it? IME, SB is a sun lover and likes to be kept constantly moist.

[ScottMcC]

The saga continues...that spike never developed, and actually ended up dying off last week. But a few weeks ago I complained to the vendor, and they sent me a replacement plant. Apparently, a certain number of the sharry babies they got had a similar problem, so they didn't seem particularly surprised to hear it.

So anyway, the new one has about 35 big plump buds ready to burst any day now on two spikes, with a third spike just peeking out.

[ScottMcC]

The replacement finally started to bloom yesterday. YAY!

It doesn't smell yet though...I take it this is one of those wait 2-3 days kinda things?

[Ironwood]

They do take a few days to mature and then the fragrance is strongest when lights is bright, (like with the sun shining on them).