D. nobile keiki's on almost every node?

[ipv6ready]

Hi I have few diferent nobiles, and all seem to be throwing keiki's on half of every cane?

Is this normal? I can understand one or two but it seems the other latent nodes seems to be developing keiki growth as well, so in total two to four on each cane seems alot?

Am I doing something wrong?

All the dens seem normal and healthy in other respect. They all flowered two months ago, and all have fast growing new growth as well. Am I been paranoid?

thanks

[Undergrounder]

Hey ipv6 i have half a dozen kiekis growing on my Dendrobium kingianum hybrid but not on my nobiles.

Nobiles shooting out lots of kiekis is usually a sign that they didn't get their proper rest in the winter and/or they got fed too much nitrogen in that period. It hasn't happened to me though, so im not sure if this is the time of year it happens or whether it happens earlier in the Spring instead of flowering.

Did you hold back watering and feeding during the winter?

[ipv6ready]

Hi undergrounder,

The nobiles all flowered. I bought most of them in flower this year in Spring. So I presume the previous owner did rest them.

I am new to this orchid growing, all seem to be doing ok. The new growth is doing fine and I do fertilise them with Campbells "blue" Orchid food which is a 30N 4P 8K.

I am in Sydney by the way of location, the orchids get 3 to four hours of (sunrise to 10 am) morning direct sun, followed by bright light but no sun. As the sun moves over to the other side of the building I supplement by 4 cfl 23W lights for 8 hours.

Should I change the fert only or the light regiment as well?

Thank you

Robert

[Undergrounder]

Hey Robert,

as i said im not sure since this hasn't happened to me, but i think the high Nitrogen may be contributing to the keiki growth, how much fert do you give it? I give mine 1/2 strength Nitrosol weekly, then fresh water every 4th watering. The Nitrosol from memory has more Nitrogen than anything else but its only a little more. Its certainly not 30:4:8 ... more like 18:12:4 or something.

If all your nobiles are keikiing i can only guess its got something to do with your routine. It can't be individual plants since they're all doing it and i live in Sydney as well and mine are just happily growing new growths right now - so it can't be the weather.

Yeah i think it might be the nitrogen.