Den. 'Akatsuki' and 'Snow King' starting to bloom

[ron-in-norcal]

I can't take credit for the first Akatsuki blooms since I received it last fall with those buds on it already. However, a few weeks later it started forming buds all up and down 3 other canes, so it seems happy here so far. The 'Snow King' has the first cane of buds opening now, well ahead of the others. Not sure why they don't form on all the canes at the same time for the same plant, but anyway, very pretty so far. Not a huge amount of fragrance on either, but I can definitely smell the Akatsuki one pretty well. I have 6 different nobiles, including the species, and all are budding out now. So, it definitely looks like they're happy here in San Diego.

[Orchids4ever]

Very Nice!!! Love the colour of the Akatsuki.
My Snow King only gave me 2 Blooms this Year-no clue why-but i think it is going crazy-because it had a bunch of blooms last August and it never bloomed in the summer before.

[ron-in-norcal]

Thanks, Monika! I think if it bloomed in August, it did get confused. Maybe it'll bloom more normally this coming winter?

[Orchids4ever]

Originally Posted by ron-in-norcal

Thanks, Monika! I think if it bloomed in August, it did get confused. Maybe it'll bloom more normally this coming winter?

I will keep my Fingers crossed

[WhiteRabbit]

Ooo! Lovely!

[Tindomul]

Very nice.

[RosieC]

Really pretty!

[NYCorchidman]

I have both of these varieties.

My Snow King has been pain in the butt so far.

It grew wonderfully with three canes last summer.

Then around last December or so, the tallest cane (with about 20 nodes available for spiking) sprouted 8 spikes in the middle of the cane. I was excited. but then only three or so survived, and each of them has only one or two flowers.
A month later, the same cane developed those tiny teasing bumps on the rest of the availale nodes, and I had my hope high again. Well, all blasted and only three are developing.

The other two canes are also making about 5 and 3 spikes each. They each had a lot of bumps but only to blast.

I guess it just is not cold enough, but at least it made the best effort. lol

My Oriental Smile "Fantasy" which already bloomed in December is sprouting a few more spikes here and there.

I don't think I will ever get a nice flower show as I used to, but I enjoy having around and see a few flowers regardless.

Regarding the fragrance on both these varieties, mine are both quite strongly scented, so yours are just endowed with little fragrance, or the flowers need to age a little bit.

---------- Post added at 11:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Orchids4ever

Very Nice!!! Love the colour of the Akatsuki.
My Snow King only gave me 2 Blooms this Year-no clue why-but i think it is going crazy-because it had a bunch of blooms last August and it never bloomed in the summer before.

I think coastal area like Northern Oregon, Washington and BC where summer is not very hot and may even get quite cool in the evening, some nobile hybrids respond to that temperature drop and flower at odd times of the year.

I have heard about this a lot from growers in those areas.

The main trigger for flowering is the cool temperature for these guys, and some need more chilling than others.

[ron-in-norcal]

Other than lack of rain, I think we're an OK climate for them here in San Diego. They're all proceeding to fill out with buds, and so far none have blasted or anything. Hope that continues! Now, if only the D. farmeri and chrysotoxum will bud out!

[NYCorchidman]

I think with the climate you have in San Diego, your dendrobium nobiles grown outside should bloom like crazy all over the canes.

How are the others doing? lots of spikes on all the nodes??

I guess I'll just have to live with my reality of indoor growing. haha