Dendobrium nobile type wintering doubt

[TER]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and new to orchids. It's the first time I'm trying to get my nobile type Den to rebloom.

My Den sits on my balcony. During the day it gets about 16º to 19ºC (60º-65ºF) and during the night 8º-10ºC (45º-50ºF). I am watering sparcely. I have not fertilized since the beginning of september.

My question is: is it normal for it to loose leaves in the new canes? It has almost lost all the leaves on the old canes, but the lower leaves on the new 3 canes are alrealy turning yellow. The old canes are wrinkled, but the new canes are plump.

Is it a question of water, wrong temperatures or no problem at all?

Thank you for your help.

[rbarata]

Welcome
Nobile type Dendrobiums lose their leaves around this time of the year. This is not a rule as some lose more than others, even in the same plant. But at least some leaves are expected to be lost.

[Shadeflower]

Nobiles can lose a majority of their leaves and still flower.

Mine has lost a couple. I know it's a fertilizer issue with mine but any issue that has crept up over the year cannot be fixed this year, in winter you should not be fertilizing much.

Do you need to stop fertilizing completely? Not in my opinion. You just need to not fertilize too much.

There was a great fertilizing video posted by isurus recently that explained in winter orchids drink less. If they drink 1/4 than they usually drink they are as a consequence getting 1/4 of the fertilizer they take in than in summer.

So is feeding 1/4 of the regular amount ok or should you reduce it further or stop altogether?

Each grower has their preference and they all work as long as you don't start fertilizing more.

With the watering I should point out I use self watering pots that are always filled. If any go without water for longer than a week they start dropping leaves.

Like mentioned they can still bloom with not many leaves left and next year they will regrow new canes, my record has been 5 new canes in a year but I'm sure mine will beat that again. I just prefer to keep the leaves, the plant looks much nicer like that throughout winter

this is one of mine taken today

[TER]

Thank you both. I will probably try to give it a little bit more warmth during the day and see if that has some effect. I'd like to keep some leaves, too.IMG_20211118_144544884_HDR.jpg - Google Drive

[Shadeflower]

It looks in good condition TER. Looks ready to flower as well. I think if you keep it just a touch more hydrated it will do fine and you should get some flowers around March.
The worst thing is for its roots to rot, you cannot take that back and that is disastrous. On a cold balcony the sun will warm the pot every day, then at night condensation will form inside the pots. These little drops already help so not much is needed, certainly not too much. Another good balcony plant is a cymbidium. Rbarata has some great looking ones growing in a similar climate to you. They all get too big but they might be perfect if you have a balcony where they can stay all year. I wish I could grow more of those.

[TER]