Growing Nobile Dendrobiums
 

We have a small orchid club and several members would like to know more about Nobile Dendrobiums. I would like to prepare a program for the club and would like to know a good source and/or suggestions for growing them. Like: mixes, light, watering, fertilizing etc. Source of a good fact sheet would be great as well as some shared experiences. Thanks.

a link: Dendrobium Species Culture

Well I am of no help really, I just wanted to ask if you wouldn't mind sharing your presentation with us when you are finished!

I do have a very small experience to share with you. I received a NOID Nobile Dendrobium, the person who sent it to me previously grew it in s/h medium/culture, so that is what I put it back into since she shipped it bare root to me. I think the roots dried out a bit before I was able to get ahold of the s/h medium, so when I put it back in, well it had to re-root it self. Since I purchased an orchidarium, it has really bounced back. I have noticed some leaf pleating occasionally, which I have been surprised to see with s/h culture. But it has grown roots all the way into the water reservoir area and seems quite happy and is growing growing growing. Obviously since it is in s/h culture, it isn't getting a winter rest like I have seen recommended, but I could swear that some who use s/h culture have not needed a winter rest. I use RO water when watering and I use MSU-type fertilizer at a nitrogen dosage of about 125 ppm. I water once a week and use fertilizer every three waterings, and then the fourth I use just plain RO water. I am probably over fertilizing, so if I am some one please tell me. I plan on backing off on the fertilizer on the winter, which is about now. Well that is my only experience...I am sure others will have some great info for you!

These are pretty easy to grow and bloom. Mine are in a typical bark mix with perlite and charcoal. I use a medium bark size rather than small. They need lots of water and fertilizer in the growing season, then cut off the fertilizer totally and most of the water when the temperatures begin to drop. They like cool temperatures to force the blooms (50F or so) along with good lighting.

In a greenhouse, I grow them like everything else. When the temperature and light slow down, most of my orchids are watered quite a bit less and the nobile dendrobiums are happy with that.

Den. Nobile
 

Nobiles are fairly easy to grow the big thing to remember is to stop watering when the last segment of the new growth is complete . Only start watering again when you see the first bumps of the flower spikes appear on the previous years growth , ( usually leafless) . If you don't stop watering the bumbs may turn into keikes

Has anyone actually tried to keep watering to induce keikis? I wonder if commercial growers do it...