Oncidium Sharry Baby was one of my first orchids (that I was able to keep alive) and twice a year I get to enjoy the fragrant and abundant blooms that smell strongly of chocolate. In fact, my favorite thing about it is that for 1-2 weeks twice a year, my living room smells like chocolate. I got mine at one of our Orchid Society’s raffle tables in 2019 and miraculously it is still alive and one of my favorite plants in my collection.

The care and growing of Oncidium Sharry Baby can be successful in a relatively wide range of conditions. A window that gets 1-5 hours of sunlight a day is what works best. I grow mine in a south facing windowsill. For temperature, they like it a little warmer than room temperature or around 80 F during the day and 60 F at night, (they can tolerate temps as low as 55 F and as high as 100 F with adjustments to watering regimen). I figure, if I am comfortable or slightly warm, then my Oncidium Sharry Baby is happy.

Water requirements will vary depending on season and growing conditions but keep the potting media lightly moist. For me, this means watering twice a week in the summer and once a month in the winter. I fertilize in the spring with slow-release pellet fertilizer, just enough to keep the pseudobulbs fat and happy.

For more care and growth instructions, the resources that have helped me the most are the American Orchid Society orchid care and culture sheets for the family of orchids that I am trying to keep alive. I will say however, that if you need information, your best resource will be your local orchid society members!