Growth cycle for dendrobium kingianum

[qbie]

Hello again. This is my first time trying to grow dendrobium kingianum acquired last month. There is a lot of information out there, but I am having trouble finding the answers to my questions. What should I expect to see in the next several months? I’m reading this type is deciduous. Does that mean this fall it will lose ALL its leaves including those on any new canes and keikis that haven’t flowered yet? Then to flower next year will those newest canes/keikis sprout new leaves and a flower spike if it is going to flower? Or should those newest growths keep their leaves but leaves drop on older growths such as canes that already flowered? Ty for enlightening me!

[Roberta]

I haven't noted Den. kingianum to be particularly deciduous. Old canes do shed leaves (and can bloom on leafless canes) but they keep leaves for multiple years. I also don't dry them out. I have found that those, and the whole Aussie Dendrobium group, do benefit from winter chill. They can take temperatures down to freezing or a bit below. (So don't bring them inside unless it is going to get REALLY cold and not warm up during the day) I strongly suspect that the chill is more important than water reduction to inspire blooming.

When you're reading about these, or any "hardy" orchids, make sure that what you're reading is location-specific. The rules are likely different if you are growing in a greenhouse in a climate with harsh winters. For anybody living in the San Francisco Bay area, I strongly suggest that you get your hands on A Bay Area Guide to Orchids and their Culture - it addresses the many microclimates of the SF Bay area. It'll be the best 20 bucks you ever spent. I find it useful even in southern California since I know enough of the Bay area and the differences where I live to extrapolate, but if you're in the Bay area, the information is very specific to the various locations.

[qbie]

Thanks! I didn’t know leafless canes can bloom. I only saw dried flower spikes off the tops of canes that still had leaves.

Read several threads about ppl withholding (too much) water during winter so was planning to let nature do its thing and leave them exposed to winter rain and chill (rarely may dip into the 30s overnight but never stays there). Will def look into that book for our microclimates. Thx!

[Roberta]

A more general resource on Aussie Dendrobiums is from the Sunset Valley Orchids site
Sunset Valley Orchids - Superior Hybrids for Orchid Enthusiasts - Dendrobium culture

---------- Post added at 10:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 AM ----------

Originally Posted by qbie

Thanks! I didn’t know leafless canes can bloom. I only saw dried flower spikes off the tops of canes that still had leaves.

Those old Den. kingianum canes very definitely can bloom. As the plant matures, it'll show you all sorts of variations on the theme. The keikis that form on some of those old canes can also bloom, adding to the show.

[qbie]

O yes! i did see dried flower spikes on some keikis too!