Project 2025 Spring Dendrobium species

[WaterWitchin]

Not that I mentioned it, but got a Den aggravation from a friend... last year I think... maybe in a pot? Can't remember. Been wanting one again for a long time. Anyway, mounted it. It was touch and go for awhile, lost half the leaves on the pbulbs, was making me really nervous. Patience!! Appears it was just working to acclimatize from SoCal to Kansas. The darned thing just finished spiking and opened its blooms.

So I've already been doing my Den species homework for this year's project.

Note Den wassellii is hanging in same place, taking notes. They were going to move to the new bench I've been working on, but are staying put now for another couple weeks. My tomato starts got moved to the new automist area because I don't want to keep track of them daily and had to take the top of the humidity tray.

[Roberta]

Wow, you got Den aggregatum ("aggrevatum") to bloom! I have tried drying, not drying, mounted, potted... nada. I'm impressed!

[Hazeldazel]

well this makes me feel better - I have an aggravation that is growing fantastically but no blooms. I guess I shouldn't feel too down about it!

Maybe I should make a separate thread for this but do any of you have good ideas for encouraging a dendrobium to come out of dormancy? I have two that grew okay last year (I did let them get a little too dry at times last year) and they were okay and went into dormancy but so far nada on any new growths or anything. Still have plump firm canes but just sitting doing nothing. They're indoors in a lighted cabinet so temps are upper 70's-upper 80's at around 60-70%RH. I'm watering and letting them dry out (they're in bark in net pots so plenty of ventilation) and they both appear to have good roots, so not sure what the problem is.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Hazeldazel

well this makes me feel better - I have an aggravation that is growing fantastically but no blooms. I guess I shouldn't feel too down about it!

Maybe I should make a separate thread for this but do any of you have good ideas for encouraging a dendrobium to come out of dormancy? I have two that grew okay last year (I did let them get a little too dry at times last year) and they were okay and went into dormancy but so far nada on any new growths or anything. Still have plump firm canes but just sitting doing nothing. They're indoors in a lighted cabinet so temps are upper 70's-upper 80's at around 60-70%RH. I'm watering and letting them dry out (they're in bark in net pots so plenty of ventilation) and they both appear to have good roots, so not sure what the problem is.

Which Dendrobiums? For me, some are waking up but I don't expect to see any action on Den. bensoniae for another month or so. Are you increasing light duration to match the season?

[Roberta]

Not starting a project since I have 'way too many... but sharing a bit of what's happening. Here is Den. crepidatum, just getting started. Buds on last year's canes, one new growth just starting (right side). Close to the camera are 2 year old canes and older ones (which are starting to get limp). This one blooms once on each year-old bare cane. And Den. rindjaniense, which is not fully deciduous, may bloom on a cane with leaves but mostly on leafless canes. You can see the remains of previous blooms - a given can can bloom multiple times. This once can bloom twice a year, unlike Den. crepidatum that blooms just one, in the spring.

[Hazeldazel]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Which Dendrobiums? For me, some are waking up but I don't expect to see any action on Den. bensoniae for another month or so. Are you increasing light duration to match the season?

Oh that’s a relief, it’s closely related to bensoniae so I guess I just got impatient.

[Roberta]

My bensoniae typically blooms in late June or so, with new growth starting about the same time, faithfully goes dormant losing all leaves around November.

[Diane56Victor]

Oh dear, reading that aggregatum is nicknamed aggravation doesn't bode well for my entrant in project!
At least I know the seller fairly well and they live reasonably close so I can call on them if needed. Along with the knowledge of people on the board, if I muck this up then it's definitely my fault!

[Roberta]

No fault! Orchids do what they want. Some times we guess right. Sometimes we don't. It's all an adventure and nobody is keeping score! It's all about learning, sharing what does (or maybe doesn't) work.