New to Dendrobium growing - are these flower buds?

[quiltergal]

I water my one remaining nobile lightly once a month during it's winter rest. It hasn't inhibited flower production at all. It's in a very cool - cold location in a bright sunny window.

[shadytrake]

Originally Posted by orchids3

It looks like you are getting buds alright. My experience is that Nobile type dendrobiums tend to initiate buds due to cool temperatures. Many people with hold water but I continue to water mine as long as the plant has leaves. It is not wise to generalize about hybrids because each species in its makeup will influence the way the plant responds to growing conditions. It takes time and patience to research natural habitat of each species in the hybrid but a good grower will do it.

I agree with you on this. They definitely look like buds to me as that is what mine looked like at first then they exploded into full spikes/buds (see the below link)

14 Hours in the Greenhouse Yesterday / SPIKES!

I also agree with the watering regimen too. If you are really into Dens (like I am), I recommend getting a couple of really good Den species books. Then I recommend going to The International Orchid Register and taking the time to research your orchid name back to it's original parent species. (see the below link)

The International Orchid Register | Royal Horticultural Society

With a lot of Dens, this can take some time as the Hybrids branch out into a large family tree HOWEVER I think this is an important step to determine how much "winter rest" your Den will need (or not).

For example, I got a Den from our Society orchid swap that I would have sworn was a Nobile type by just looking at it. I took the time to research it back and found out that it is NOT AND I found out that it actually prefers Intermediate-Warm all year long with profuse watering. I am now rewarded by that research with 3 bloom spikes and a very healty chid.

Winter is a perfect time to do this research as a lot of us are hibernating inside and a lot of our chids don't need as much attention (at least mine don't).

I'm excited to see that you put it in s/h. I know you saw my post on the other page. I hope you have good luck with it. I love s/h. I would really like to see some more photos. Also, if it is a true "winter rest" Den make sure you don't over pot it. They do LOVE to be tight in the pot and it helps if you have some bottom weight to keep them from tipping. You can't see it in the photo but the bottom of my s/h 2L coke bottles have a 2" layer of lava rock for ballast.

[Hedge]

Thanks for all the advice, Melissa , here are some photos I took a couple of days ago:

The visible roots are mostly old ones that I left to try and give it some support - it is very unstable now. The new roots are buried at the top - they have green tips and hopefully are still growing. The buds are developing really well and are even bigger now - sorry about photo quality - daylight has been a bit pathetic here so these are taken by fluorescent strip light. The plant is generally receiving seven to eight hours of weak British daylight in a room at about 19 deg C. I am hopeful to get flowers but not necessarily to keep the plant - t.l.c. is all I can offer .

I wish I had a name - I was given Isobyl LaCroix's Encyclopedia of Orchid Species for my birthday by a group of generous friends who clubbed together so I can do the research on the parents if only I knew what they were!!!! D*!$5 box shifters selling unlabelled plants.

[Hedge]

Attached are my pathetic attempts at photographing whit flowers with a greenish lip and slight mauve-ness at the throat. They are about an inch and a quarter or 3 cm tall.

[orchidman77]

Hey Hedge and All!

I FINALLY received my nobile today.....it's called Dendrobium Yellow Song 'Canary' and it looks AMAZING! I was hoping it would be in bud, and it is!!!!

I would say that it is 2 to 3 weeks away from blooming. I have it in the same pot and I'm not repotting it until it finishes blooming, but I did support it by putting it into a clay pot.

Enjoy the photos! I'll update when it blooms.

David

[pbphut]

Looks like a beauty! And lots of spikes too!!! Please post pictures when they bloom!

[Hedge]

What a lovely plant, David, it looks a lot stronger than mine - can't wait to see the flowers. I reckon you've about two weeks to wait - nerve wracking!!

[orchidman77]

Thanks guys!

I know, I can't wait for it to bloom either! I'm hoping the (possible) cold won't blast the spikes, but it doesn't look like that'll be a problem. I'll post some updated pictures in about a week.

Hedge, what about an update on yours??? Or a full plant photo??

David

[Hedge]

As requested - my dendrobium !!

It's not scented as far as I can tell

[Blueszz]

Hedge, it's not the same plant as far as I can see but your Den. reminds me on a Yamamoto Dendrobium Nobile hybrid I have. The flowers on mine or double the size and the leafs seam to be broader... The flowers are rounder too... but center of the blooms and the top petal (or is that a sepal?) look very much alike... as the shape of canes...


Great this one bloomed for you. Are you any closer to an ID or is it still very NoID for you?

Nicole