New member has Dendrobuim Hibiki Questions!

[hashpants]

guys, I just created an account because I need the combined wisdom of this group!

So I live in Toronto, and am primarily a south facing window sill grower.
I have a humidifier and I can maintain about 50% ave.

I bought my Hibiki April of this year, and I think it is my favourite one so far (I have a small collection - 12 plants). And it has been doing really well. Lots of new canes, roots flying all over the place.

Recently I saw 4 bumps on 3 canes. 1 turned out to be an inflorescence but the other 3 are keikis.

So am I doing something wrong? That seems like alot of keikis, and I was really hoping for some more spikes.

Also, I was told to let it really outgrow its pot before repotting because they like being root bound. When is the best time to repot these guys?

Thank you for all your help! Any other advice about this plant would be also a huge help.

[farley101]

Throwing in my $.02. I don't know much about your specific plant but....I picked up 2 NOID Den phals from a big box store about this time last year. I repotted immediately on advice from here, they were in solid ceramic pots - no drainage.

I moved them to new surroundings, better aeration and drainage. This summer they have pretty much exploded. New canes and kekeis all over the place.

I figure any new growth is good, let the plant do what it wants. It was grown in a particular manner, you have a different environment. It will grow differently for you than for the grower you got it from more than likely.

I was (AM!!) a hovering parent coming into the hobby recently. I "may" have figured out that I need to observe my plants and see how they react to my environment. Orchids are bad for this (slow reactors), but I persisted and have learned a lot about what to look for.

Your plant looks good, unless you have leaves yellowing and falling, I doubt there is any issues. The plant will do what it will, hang on and enjoy the ride!

[hashpants]

Thanks! No leaf issues yet. I have been loving the journey so far. Thanks have been going really well. Rebloomed 2 phals, they spiked almost a month after I cut the old spikes. One just opened all its flowers and the other is well on its way. Just hoping I can continue this progress over the coming winter. Thanks for your comments.

[farley101]

Good to hear you're having success! I (knock on wood) can say the same for a lot of what I'm growing. Some hiccups along the way but for the most part I've "lucked" into success. Having weeks of FL temp/humidity in MN this summer has done wonders!

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Dendrobiums like a lot of water when making new growth. That means the medium must be well aerated. I'm not familiar with this type of Dendrobium, but some other kinds make keikiis instead of flowers when they get too much fertilizer too late in the year.

[hashpants]

Thanks I will reduce the fertilizer and see what happens.

[Roberta]

Den Hibiki is not particularly seasonal so I don't think time of year for fertilizer is causing the keikis . (Leave them attached... they will bloom too and just improve the show.) But generally orchids don't need much fertilizer. I am more concerned about that pot... if it doesn't have drainage holes, it needs a new pot right away. If there's a plastic liner so that you can water it well (water running through the pot) then it's OK.

[hashpants]

Hi Roberta!

The outer pot is just decorative. It is in a plastic 3" plastic pot with holes at the bottom. I am planning on repotting it next summer I think.

Drainage is not amazing but so far it does not seem to mind. I fertilize 1/4 of the recommended dose. I water with fert when it is about 70% dry, so once a week or so. And I flush once a month. I guess I just need to be patient, which orchid growing teaches you apparently. And I think I will leave the babies on there for now and reevaluate when it comes time to repot.

Thanks for your feedback.