Can too many keikis be a good thing !

[veena]

In Pune,India we have a
wet season -July to Mid Sept.
Winter -Mid Nov to Feb
Summer-March to June and Oct
when do you think I should rest a dendo?

[justatypn]

Let me add my 2 cents worth. I have a dend nobile that has been producing keiki''s for some time, looking yesterday the young sibling is producing now as well. My fert is across the board 20-20-20 and have been using this for all my orchids every week weakly 4th week no fert, but this regimen works for mine. I was told that my lighting had made a difference. So I decided that I was going to have all 3 of these plants grow in different lighting areas within my growing space. Results were the less light the more they grew keiki's the brighter the light the less keiki's, but they still produced. So in a nutshell if it's to produce keiki's, share in the wealth of these beauties, I am.

Resting period for Dend's would be your "Winter -Mid Nov to Feb". I usually do not fert during that time and water every 10-14 days.

[veena]

Thanks a lot Cheryl.

[EdinAZ]

I agree with those who feel that the high-nitrogen could be a contributor. I used to try to use N-rich fertilizer in the "growing season" and "bloom booster" with more P-K when they were ready to bloom. Too many orchids with different "seasons" got to be a lot of trouble, so I switched to the "bloom booster" for ALL fertilizing. I did this over 2 years ago, and I don't notice any reduction in vegatative growth.

Also the light level matters, but if you have a very sunny and dry climate, you will want to watch out for "sunburn".

Ed

[phearamedusa]

I was always told that if a dendro produced kiekis it was most likely caused by improper cultural practices. You got some things right but maybe at the wrong time, so instead of flowers you got kiekis. Some chids will do this at the drop of a hat. My pierardii is blooming right now, in fact the kieki is too. On the same cane you can sometimes get both. I agree that the high Nitrogen might be contributing to your kieki, no flower problem.

[veena]

I think that I should do the following things

1 Use a bloom booster high P and low N
Have bought a 5-40-28+ (NPK) fertilizer.
2 Water less in winter.

Am I right guys?