It's in a plastic pot with large fir bark and a thin layer of lava rock on
top for the look only. I believe that I have not taken enough care to
always keep it moist though. I thought the bark held moisture pretty well
but now don't believe that to have been sufficient. I will add the fine
bark for retention.

I'd like to repot into a more attractive container, perhaps a glazed
ceramic.

I have always had new leaves coming out and actually removed about a third
of the plant last time I repotted. About a year back. I also may have been
fertilizing to often recently (the last 5 or 6 months). No blooms.

My wife says that I should get a new one and I reply that I will when she
replaces the cat.
It's the only Orchid that I have and do like the plant.

TB


"K Barrett" wrote in message
news:1prgb.693004$YN5.563902@sccrnsc01...
Black tips could be insufficient humidity. But considering your proximity
to
the water I'd doubt it was ambient humidity. It might be drying out too
fast
in the large bark you have it in. Try putting a thin layer of fine bark
over the large bark you have it potted in. This will keep more moisture
inside the pot. Or if its in a clay pot slip that pot into a plastic pot
and
see if that keeps more moisture at the roots. (Not sopping wet, but more
evenly moist.

Leaf tips also turn black frrom fertilizing a dry pot. The concentration
on
salts transport to the leaf tips and result in them dieing back. So water
before you fertilize (like the day before). This'll also keep your bark in
better shape, it won't get crusty white salt deposits on it as fast.

Also, Sharry Baby tends to have small black spots on the leaves anyway,
depending on the light, so if you see those develop, don't freak.

Have you gotten any new growths?

I'm in the Concord area. We get hotter and are drier than most of the rest
of the Bay Area.

K Barrett