Natural division?

[theorchidapartment]

I have a Dendrobium hybrid (Miva Abracadabra) that has more than doubled in size over the past year. There are two main directions of growth.

Three growths on one side flowered in quick succession. Just as the first of those blooms began to fade, I noticed that three growths on the other side are putting out spikes.

I was considering dividing this at next repot, but is this staggered blooming an indication that it has already divided itself into two plants?

[Mr.Fakename]

I'm sorry I can't answer the question, and I'll even ask one more.

How are you growing this? I'm tempted to try Dendrobium atroviolaceum but have no clue about Den care!

[theorchidapartment]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

How are you growing this? I'm tempted to try Dendrobium atroviolaceum but have no clue about Den care!

Oh! This hybrid has been extremely easy and very tolerant of my early missteps. It was actually one of the first named orchids I ever got and is the only Latouria section Den I've ever had.

It's growing on my top shelf, which is intermediate-warm, middling humidity, high light.

It came in a very chunky bark and perlite mix and definitely suffered dehydration as the roots took over the pot and I took "dry grower" a little too far. I repotted it in a medium bark and perlite mix in August and as you can see the roots are taking over again. I douse it whenever it dries out, which, since the heat has come on, happens in a day or two.

Fertilizing with MSU at around 1/4 tsp per gallon when I think to, which is somewhere between once a week and a few times a month.

No rest period necessary from what I can tell!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by theorchidapartment

I was considering dividing this at next repot, but is this staggered blooming an indication that it has already divided itself into two plants?

Hard to say what happened there. Sometimes, orchids can grow rhizomes in other directions ----- not just in one direction. This is also assuming this orchid was always a single plant - not a community pot.

[Roberta]

If it hasn't divided itself, it's a good candidate and made it easy for you. Or just put the whole thing in a bigger pot. Those roots are gorgeous. (My prejudice, I'd rather have one larger plant than two smaller ones. Better display, and takes up less room)

[theorchidapartment]

Thanks Roberta! If it's not coming apart on its own, then I'll keep it in one pot, but you're right—I definitely need to go bigger next time!!

[Roberta]

Actually, even it does come apart you could put all back into one pot. (For judging, that's frowned upon but for your own pleasure go for what you like)

[theorchidapartment]

If it is two plants already, one division will be going out the door! It's the second largest orchid I have and I need to do what I can to make room for more

[Fairorchids]

It looks like you have it in a 3.1/2" or 4" pot. That pot is plenty big enough for this plant. I do not think that it has divided itself, many blooming size+ orchids bloom out of synch.

Unless the plant falls into 2 pieces by itself when you repot it next time, DON'T.

You get much better production (growth + blooming) from one mature size plant, than from two barely blooming size plants.

[theorchidapartment]

Thank you for answering the question about the out-of-synch blooming! I'm glad to hear this is normal for a single plant and do plan to keep it as intact as possible. My only concern with keeping it in this pot is that the roots have taken over so quickly, but I'll just see how it goes, I guess!