Sharry Baby - Orchid Board

justatypn · #1 01-23-2007, 09:29 AM

Less than a week ago I did my normal regimen of flushing my orchids. The Sharry Baby at that time had not lost one bloom, it's been in bloom for about a month and a few days. My question is....after a day the blooms started to fall off, last night I came home and there were 12 blooms on the floor, what a nice show huh

, how long do these blooms last, they are not falling off in a slow process, just merely dropping. Is this the norm or did I shock it. I should also mention that 2 long leaves have yellowed as well, which were not yellowed prior to this watering.

canadacarol · #2 01-23-2007, 11:45 AM

In my experience, Sharry Baby blooms last about a month (meaning each flower).
I don't know if you shocked it. Just could be the normal process of flowers fading. The long (usually older) leaves might be yellowing as a result of normal ageing.

I've found that many times when an orchid jump-starts it's growing, the older leaves will start to fall off, and new growth soon appears.

All this being said, keep a close eye on it and look for "critters" just in case. Also, if you can check the roots, you might be able to see any problems.

Good Luck!

Carol

Ironwood · #3 01-23-2007, 09:45 PM

Sharry Baby can bloom from a month to six weeks. Many orchids take some time for the spike to develop but when there time is done some trigger activates and the entire spike will collapse very quickly.

Barbara · #4 01-23-2007, 11:44 PM

Hello, I don't think you need to worry, this is what our Sherry Baby looked like 3-4 days before it dropped every flower it had.

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Like the expert staking?

Ours could have used a little more water during the summer growth spurt with those crinked leaves.

canadacarol · #5 01-24-2007, 12:34 AM

I bought this Sharry Baby 2-3 years from blooming size, and this is how it looked a few years ago. Later, I gave it away, as it was getting too huge.

As you can see, the flower spikes are filled pretty good, even though it took 4-5 weeks for all of them to bloom.

Carol

justatypn · #6 01-24-2007, 09:29 AM

OMG Carol I am so jealous, that is beyond my expectations for these onc. I will keep an eye on it, the roots are exposed, a bit dry looking which I keep misting daily, not sure this is a good idea but the best I have right now until it completes it's dropping. I am assuming it might just be it's time to shed the blooms, but it was a shocker when they started to drop in multiples after thorough watering.

Thanks all for your imput and help, wanted one of these guys for a very long time and finally got one and just want to baby it...

canadacarol · #7 01-25-2007, 12:24 PM

Cheryl, I found that my Sharry Baby was a very thirsty plant, and I'd water it maybe 2-3 times a week, but then, the humidity was quite low.

I stopped misting when I found that those famous "freckles" (likely fungus) on the leaves increased; besides, it's the roots that would need the moisture the most, to keep those blooms healthy and strong.

I don't recall ever having had a spike just drop all it's blooms within a day or so.

Also, as the plant gets bigger (I've found this with many other larger orchids,) it's best to concentrate (maybe that's a bad word when taking about orchid cuture) the water around the perimeter of the media, just so that it doesn't get too wet in the centre of the pot, which could promote root rot.

Need to get another Sharry Baby - I miss mine.

Hope this helps.

Carol

Linnie · #8 01-25-2007, 04:45 PM

OH MY How gorgeous. I'll be telling my friend in Michigan just how lovely her Sharry Baby is going to get!! I know she will love it when I tell her she has at least two more weeks on her blooms!!

I bought one on ebay about six months ago for myself and I THINK I see a spike on it... Sure hope so.. I've never bloomed an oncidium yet so this is new for me..

justatypn · #9 01-25-2007, 10:07 PM

I looked for a very long time for just the right Sharry Baby after it bloomed it was so wonderful to walk into my home and the aroma would knock you back. The blooms are so delicate in appearance, just hope mine is not to pee-oooh'd at me. We will see, all trial and error and once figured out something else comes along.

Tindomul · #10 01-25-2007, 11:06 PM

Holly Molly!! Barbara! I think mine would have had three spikes this year had I taken better care of it during the growing season. Now I know for next year!!!!! That must have smelled sooooooooo good!!!!