Dendrobium won't flower
 

Plant is several years old. Has two pseudobulbs fully matured and can see nub of flower spike looking like it just wants to take off but won't. One pseudobulb is probably 2-3 years old and one is about 1 year old. Also has one old pseudobulb cut back to one leaf.Placed in a west window with plenty of light, growing in bark medium, let it dry between watering. I know it just wants to do it's thing and I' m just missing something.

:welcomeflowers:

Sorry to hear about your uncooperative Den! I have one like that myself. Has it ever bloomed, do you know?

:welcomeflowers:

Can you post a picture of your Dendrobium?

Also give us a little background of where you are growing it?

What type it is if you know would help too.

by the way she is describing it: i feel it is a Den. phal...but what is strange is it doesnt produce keiki or bloom...you would either get one of each in a span of 3 years...
I suggest you change your window position and watering/fertilizer regimen
but dont repot(maybe it is the main reason why= it might be sulking for 3 years= I had one Den phal hybrid...and just decided to bloom after 3 years...grrr!

*wait...Dendrobiums dont have pseudobulbs...they have canes...
are you sure it is a Dendrobium??!! ok...we really need pictures now

My Dendrobium was the same, 2 years it took to see the flowers!

dendrobium won't flower
 

The plant was flowering when it was purchased. That was from the central psuedobulb. A kiki did grow about 2 years after. I did not have it in an appropriate window the first year. I repotted it and moved it to a west facing window and shortly after the 1st kiki developed on the right, matured but did not throw a flower spike. The following year it grew a second kiki, the one on the left and has also matured. You can see the nub of a flower spike in the junction of the last leaf in both but they just won't take that last step. The only thing I can think of that may be an issue is perhaps I repotted in a pot that is too big and it is still trying to grow into it.

The cane type suggests a Phalaenanthe or Spatulata type Dendrobium which means it takes year round watering with no winter rest. These need lots of filtered sunlight and usually bloom in the summer.

My suggestion is high humidity, lots of filtered light (to the point that the canes and leaves will try to turn purplish), and possibly a little warmer. These guys are intermediate to warm growers. With you being in CT, they will probably bloom in mid-summer instead of early summer like down here.

I grow my Phalaenanthe and Spatulata types in semi-hydro. They LOVE to be root bound in the pot so if you are over-potted, it will likely not bloom until it builds up a tight root ball in there.

Here is bigibbum that I just re-potted. I bet that it won't bloom again until the roots establish.

Thank you. I think the light is enough maybe too much. Sunny but dappled with trees in west window. The leaves are getting mottled on the older canes. Could use some suggestions for the humidity. Have not used anything so far. Would a tray of stones and water be enough?

I would start with that and also get a $7 thermometer with humidity gauge. They sell them at Home Depot and Lowes.

I keep my humidity above 50% and my temps do reach 90's regularly in summer. I use an Orbit ArizonaMist system. These Dens get my NW corner of the shadehouse and I have about 20% shadecloth because I get a lot of sun.

As I type, the humidity is 50% and 84 degrees according to my meter. I'll water my bulbo mounts tonight and that will raise the humidity overnight.

Hi, sover,

I love dendrobium hybrids like the one you have, and I grow quite a few of them.
I don't see initiated flower spike in your picture, but if it started a spike and then it won't develop any further, then I don't think it's due to any particular cultural error.
Not enough light is probably the most common reason for no flowers, but yours at least started a spike so light is not an issue here.

Humidity is also not an issue really. I grow all mine indoor by the sunny window and the humidity is low. They flower just fine although the flower count is not as bountiful as their potential could reach.

Sounds like you are doing pretty much everything alright.
Maybe it's just the plant not behaving nicely.
When a spike is initiated, it should develop into a full spike with buds on it. I have one nearly dried up dendrobium with no leaves and roots and still initiated two spikes (one aborted in the very early stage of its development and the other grew and is bearing 7 flowers now).
It's most likely the plant. I would say bye bye after one more misbehavior. :biggrin:

What color were the flowers when you first bought it? Some white dendrobiums won't develop even if they are subject to high light. Even some blue colored ones also stays full green without a hint of purple tanning. It's quite complicated I guess due to their breeding background.

Anyways, just keep growing for a bit longer and if it becomes a pattern, then you have the answer! ;)