Nobile Dendrobium Culture - New Stuff?

[Bolero]

Hi everyone,

For those who subscribe, can I get you to have a look at page 574 of the October 2009 issue and have a read of the first question asked. I have to say I was blown away and need to give more thought to their requirements. I will summarise as best I can:

It basically says that Keiki formation may not be the direct result of watering or fertilising too much during the rest period. It may be caused by temperatures that are low enough to activate 'lateral buds' but the low temps re not kept long enough and in the meantime the plants also experience warm conditions as well. Under these conditions high ferilisation may aggravate keiki growth. Studies have been done on this scenario which proves this theory is likely to be the case.

In order to trigger better flowering the key is to give the plants more time at low temps which should reduce keiki production.

I think this is major information, especially for me who has been just keeping them bone dry all winter.

What do you think?

Darren

[Blueszz]

Hi Darren,
sounds like it could be true. However I only have one Den. nobile type hybrid that I have to reflower this season. It's in my care for about 9 months now.
A while ago I noticed that when I kept it dry to give it a dry cold winter rest, it was loosing leafs, even on this years growths. That was the reason I asked on OB if I should water or not. Jerry owns a nursery and has my type of hybrids and advised not to stop watering at all but he said I should have stopped fertilizing in August.
My plant gets watered and I keep it cool and in a sunny spot during the day. It looks great but no signs something is emerging from the canes. Might be a bit too early for it.

I wondered how it was possible that I bought the plant with leafs on all canes while it flowered and why it was loosing leafs after being dry for only a few days. Seems that watering is the key to prevent it loosing leafs. We'll see what happens with my nobile hybrid. It gets cold nights since a few weeks... there should happen something soon (I hope).

Nicole

[Bolero]

Yes hopefully that works for you as well. I am hoping for flowers soon but there are no signs of flowers or keiki's and it's getting later in the year. Mind you one plant has about 10 new canes emerging so who knows what will happen. It's an interesting discussion and hopefully more information will be become available as the study progresses.

[Saiva]

That works great for me. I keep all my cool growing orchids outside during the summer! When the night temperatures start to fall down to 5 C i keep them indoors at night. Then when the daytime temperature starts to fall under 5 C I just keep them indoors until next summer.