Dendrobium Kingianum buds not opening, going brown

[estación seca]

Thrips are so small most people can't see them unless they're moving. It only takes a few to damage a spike, so a lot of people never see them. If you look up thrips damage on orchids you will probably find good photos to compare with your plant.

They damage other plants as well. Citrus are known susceptible; the bugs damage developing leaves, which turn out twisted and deformed.

[aliceinwl]

I had heard D. kingianum bloomed better if kept drier over the winter so the year before last I did. My plant did the exact same thing. Although otherwise looking healthy, the buds browned and dropped before opening (it did put out a good number of spikes); I didn’t get a single flower. This year, I watered through the winter and buds are now starting to open with no browning or flower drop. It seems like allowing it to get big enough to get pot bound has been the key to good flowering. Is there any chance yours got a bit too dry at some point?