Den Problem

[Ben Belton]

A few months back I received a mini antelope type Den division from a friend in my orchid society. I've been after her for years for a piece and she finally divided it. She's a really nice lady. I got the back bulbs/canes (whatever) which is expected. Only one of them had leaves. When she was handing it to me, she let me know she had sprayed it with KeikiPro to get it to put out more growths and get it going. Ugh... I thought. Well, instead of putting out new growth, it is blooming itself to death. In almost a year it has tried to bloom multiple times with no new canes growing. My understanding of KeikiPro from the vendor that you try to time spraying it with whatever you want the plant to do. If you want more roots, you spray the plants when it is putting out roots. If you want more flowers, you spray the plant when the inflorescence tips are starting. I would have thought it would have worn off by now. Maybe I'm not growing it right.

At the moment it has about 7 flower spikes started and one of the only 3 leaves I have is dying. I have been cutting the spikes when they come out to not take the energy from the plant by blooming.

Any ideas would be appreciated. The plant has been outside all summer getting direct morning sun and afternoon shade. Its growing beside similar Dens that are happy and fine. In the winter they grow in the basement directly under a metal halide light. They seem to like it.

[zxyqu]

Hey Ben. First question, have you let any of the spikes bloom out? My brief experience with kiekipro did exactly as described... kiekis. I was wondering if you're getting all these spikes that may turn out to have mostly kiekis, but I've had only poor experiences with Dens. I've not tried to induce other things with it (roots/growths). Have you tried other stimulators, like KLN/Superthrive. I've had good success with KLN at getting roots with Phals, and growths with Oncs. Don't know about Dens though.
Dont know if that's much help, but it might be worth trying a new stimulant.
Hope all those Phals are enjoying the carport still. Good Luck

[JeffreyGreen17]

Sometimes when an orchid is on the verge of death it gives blooms as a means of last resort to make seeds and thus caring on the existence of their genes. I don't know if this is the case but it could be, or it could be that kieki stuff, in my opinion I try not to do stuff like that to my orchids because there could be some harmful side effects.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by Ben Belton

A few months back I received a mini antelope type Den division from a friend in my orchid society. I've been after her for years for a piece and she finally divided it. She's a really nice lady. I got the back bulbs/canes (whatever) which is expected. Only one of them had leaves. When she was handing it to me, she let me know she had sprayed it with KeikiPro to get it to put out more growths and get it going. Ugh... I thought. Well, instead of putting out new growth, it is blooming itself to death. In almost a year it has tried to bloom multiple times with no new canes growing. My understanding of KeikiPro from the vendor that you try to time spraying it with whatever you want the plant to do. If you want more roots, you spray the plants when it is putting out roots. If you want more flowers, you spray the plant when the inflorescence tips are starting. I would have thought it would have worn off by now. Maybe I'm not growing it right.

At the moment it has about 7 flower spikes started and one of the only 3 leaves I have is dying. I have been cutting the spikes when they come out to not take the energy from the plant by blooming.

Any ideas would be appreciated. The plant has been outside all summer getting direct morning sun and afternoon shade. Its growing beside similar Dens that are happy and fine. In the winter they grow in the basement directly under a metal halide light. They seem to like it.

Ben, the back division of my noid antelope hybrid has been behaving the same way since Spring and it wasn't treated with any type of growth stimulants. I considered removing new spikes, but didn't. A few weeks ago what I thought was another fat spike turned out to be a keiki. At this stage I'd recommend you save any spike that looks exceptionally fat because it might be a keiki. There's still hope, even if your plant looses all of it's leaves. Dormant dendrobium canes have a habit of initiating keikis, especially during Springtime.

[Ben Belton]

I wanted to update you on the progress of this plant. I have been babying it hard. It has been moved to semi-hydroponic. There aren't many viable roots so mostly the plant just sits on top. I spray the top of the LECA about twice a week. Last week I was rewarded with this below.

At the center of this ugly picture where it looks like all the canes are dead, you can see the beginning of a new one. There are parts of this plant that look better, so I have a lot of hope that if this will take off and put out new roots like new Den canes do, then I'll have this one out if the woods. I'm very happy.