Denrobium aphyllum Finding the right balance
 

I bought this plant about 9 years ago. When purchased it was a vision of beauty...a lush 24" long "show stopping" shower of leaves, flowers and blooming keikis. It was an impulse buy and at the time I had no knowledge of how to care for her. In spite of my abuse the poor thing has managed to live.

Three years ago she was down to her last rootless, leafless 8" stem. To initiate growth I placed her in a wooden slat basket with some damp sphagnum moss. Her recovery was slow but she eventually began producing keikis from each node on her stem. Last year I transplanted her to a fern basket and her condition continued to improve. Last fall, when her leaves dropped, I withheld water and fertilizer, but she did not bloom this spring.

This is what she looks like today. This fall I'm planning to again withhold the fertilizer, but I'll continue to water her sparingly during her dormancy. Hopefully this will create the right balance and result in blooms next spring.

Great growing to bring her back to health :clap:. I hope you find the right balance to get flowers :crossfing

WOW !!! From one single stem to all of that. Way to go. It does look indeed very healthy. This one might be one of those dendrobiums that bloom on second year canes??? Either way when it blooms it will look awesome !!!!

Thank you. Second year canes? I didn't think of that and you might be right. This is my only deciduous chid. and they're a little tricky.

I've got a couple of nobile and deciduous dendrobiums and my nobiles didn't bloom last year but this year they did on the canes from last year. The Den. purpureum did bloom for me but it was an older grown plant that I had won at an auction. The leaved canes however didn't so they might bloom on 2nd or 3 year leafless canes. Now just be patient.

There seems to be different theories on watering during dormancy. I figure I'll try giving her a little water this year and see what happens. When I purchased her she was about 4 times larger than she is now. There were leaves, tons of flowers, and keiki action all going on at the same time. I can't remember if the flowering canes had leaves on them or if they were bare. Simultaneous leaves and blooms leads me to believe the plant had received some off season moisture, but how often and how much remains a question. Currently she gets dunked in rain water (if available) once or twice daily. My plan is to switch her less frequent light mistings in mid-October and hope for the best. She does still have some bare canes left over from last year. Maybe those are the ones that will bloom next spring.:crossfing

My suggestion is to completely withhold water and fertilization during full dormancy.

According to my experience, if proper dormancy is not observed, the situation will be worse than just not producing flowers. The shoots get smaller and smaller. The canes can rot unexpectedly. Roots either grow shorter or don't grow out at all. Eventually the entire plant just gives up if dormancy is never observed.

Dormancy is serious business with the Dens that do so. More so than I ever thought it was.

Sounds serious, but that's exactly what's happening with my Den harveyanum and Den atavus. Honestly, I hope they'll pull through (mine and yours).

Just a quick out of topic question here. Does Dendrobium senile require dormancy??? Something tells me yes alongside with Den. unicum

I'm an outdoor grower and have to carefully consider the local climate before witholding water. Our climate stays pretty warm and tropical through November and sometimes through December. IMO this would not be the proper time to completely withhold water. Most OB suggestions have recommended the end of October as the target date for ceased watering in deciduous chids. Doesn't one also have to consider restriction of water coinsiding with sustained lower seasonal temperatures? If so, that would be during the months ranging from mid to late December through the end of March in my geographical local.

You're right and I know you've been doing your homework! :D

According to the research I've done so far, October is the month to start slowing down waterings for deciduous Dens in their native homelands. Dormancy must be coordinated with temperature drops, changes in daytime length, and the possible dropping (not necessarily) of leaves. Full dormancy is usually reached right around mid-Nov or early Dec and can last from 1 month (for certain species) up to three months from then.

I plan to follow this cycle as well (cross my fingers).