Dendrobium Nobile (should you prune?)

[reallysmallcandy12]

Greetings

I purchased a dendrobium nobile recently from a shop, which just now finished flowering. It flowered early as it was from a shop, where they of course provocated flowering early. I read that you have to prune it some place, but other places are telling me not to prune it all, so im seeking advice in regards to this.

I will attach a picture as well of the base of the plant, so that if anyone has advice about which (if I even have to) one of the new canes to cut.

[estación seca]

No, don't prune orchids. Don't prune stems, don't prune leaves, don't prune roots. They are slowly growing plants. Pruning will set them back.

Many Dendrobiums (Den.) may flower in future years from old stems. Leave them on the plant until they turn brown and dry completely.

Den. nobile types are brought into flower at any time of year by manipulating temperatures in the grower's greenhouse. Six weeks of cool night temperatures (12C or lower) usually does the trick. They normally flower in early to mid Spring after a cool winter.

People divide large plants when they outgrow the space, but this isn't considered pruning.

At least some of those look like normal growths from the base. Don't divide those; that is where next year's flowers come from.

Take a look here for information on how to grow this kind of Den.:
Yamamoto Dendrobiums: Caring

Yamamoto Dendrobiums: Hints

[reallysmallcandy12]

This helped a lot thanks very much sir.

[Ray]

Also keep in mind that all of those growths - both now and old - function as a colony, creating and storing the phytochemical resources that keep the plant resilient and healthy.

Unnecessary dividing diminishes that.

[reallysmallcandy12]

Then when should you think about dividing? From my count there are 9 canes and 3 keikis right now. Is the time of dividing to do with the amount of shoots, or is it the size that is important?

[estación seca]

I suggest not dividing unless you have no space for a larger plant. This kind of Den. grows very compactly, and prefers relatively small pots for the height of the plant. They will probably never need a pot larger than 15cm in diameter, and that would be a very old and large plant. Larger plants produce a much better flower show.

Orchids need to be repotted every few years, when the medium breaks down. At this time you can cut out dead stems. The time to do this is when new roots are just forming, 1-2mm long. Repotting damages old roots and longer new roots, so you don't want to do it at other times.

[rbarata]

Why do you want to divide it?
Is the plant too big? Or do you want another plant?