Dendrobium Sonia Earsakul - Orchid Board

Helen · #1 04-07-2007, 08:22 PM

My dendrobium sonia earsakul hasn't bloomed in 3 years since it was given to me as a birthday gift. (My first orchid). I can't believe I kept it alive this long!
Any help with helping to get this beauty to bloom again would be great. Each spring it ususally puts out a new stem ? (can't remember what you call it), but nothing so far this spring. I've just repotted it out of spaghnum into bark mix with charcoal, etc to see if it does any better.
Any ideas would be helpful...which window, how much humidity, how and when to fertilize, etc.

Thanks
FirstTimer

smartie2000 · #2 04-07-2007, 08:35 PM

I find dends to be tough too...
I think this one is a phalaenopsis typed dend. I had mine for many years, it grew so big that I had two separate plants and never bloomed
They will require high light to bloom. I would put it on a southern window. Maybe try putting the plant outside, but don't cook it in the sun and remember to bring it in before frost (I sort of froze mine). Lightiing seems to be the issue for these guys

Helen · #3 04-07-2007, 08:56 PM

It's in a west window now, so I'll try the south...it gets really hot there though and there is no sheer on that window....is that okay do you think?
Thx again
FT

smartie2000 · #4 04-07-2007, 09:02 PM

I think these can handle a lot of sun. I put mine outside where lighting is much more intense than indoors and it didn't get burned

...I'm going to wait for some more experienced dend growers to chime in. I already froze my phalaenopsis type dend outside by accident in my attempt to bloom the plant.

I remember that my grandma bloomed the exact same plant as mine and she had a sun room

Helen · #5 04-07-2007, 09:33 PM

Okay, thanks again. I will try putting it outside once it gets warmer...I'm in Southwestern Ontario.
FT

Lagoon · #6 04-07-2007, 11:56 PM

I don't find that humidity is really an issue with Dens. Now lighting is ..... Give it as much light as it will take.
Mine with grow in fun sun -- Southwest exposer. Mine live outside during the summer.

Don't forget to introduce you plants slowly, you don't want to burn them. Maybe some early morning sunshine.Then late afternoon sunshine -- ease your plants into their new growing conditons, Within a couple of weeks then will be harden up and be able to take much more sunshine.

I feed seaweed and Dyna-Gro *7 9 5* every couple of waterings when I remember, I don't really fuss with fertilizers with these guys.

Good luck, let us know how your making out

Helen · #7 04-08-2007, 02:51 PM

Thanks Lagoon, for the advice. I will do exactly what you suggested. When I rec'd it a few years back it was in bloom, in June...I guess it won't bloom this June until the light situation is rectified....I'll keep you posted. I was seriously thinking about putting it outside this summer (S.W. Ontario) until about early Sept. timeframe.
I always worry about bugs and disease though.
Much appreciated!
FirstTimer

Shadow · #8 04-08-2007, 04:44 PM

Yes, the bugs is a problem, but most orchids love staying outside. Use this opportunity if you have it.

Helen · #9 04-29-2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagoon

I don't find that humidity is really an issue with Dens. Now lighting is ..... Give it as much light as it will take.
Mine with grow in fun sun -- Southwest exposer. Mine live outside during the summer.

Don't forget to introduce you plants slowly, you don't want to burn them. Maybe some early morning sunshine.Then late afternoon sunshine -- ease your plants into their new growing conditons, Within a couple of weeks then will be harden up and be able to take much more sunshine.

I feed seaweed and Dyna-Gro *7 9 5* every couple of waterings when I remember, I don't really fuss with fertilizers with these guys.

Good luck, let us know how your making out

Gloria, you mentioned you have a dend. phal. ???
What medium is yours planted in? Also, what type is it exactly? I placed mine in an east window for most of morning and then moved to the west window in afternoons 2x/week. two bottom leaves have turned yellow, each on different canes....I have a new shoot which started Apr. 11. I started fertilizing this month also with MSU, weakly. I'm hoping these leaves are old and that's why they yellowed and are going to drop off soon. I would really like to see this dend. bloom.
Oh, does yours bloom in summer? When I rec'd mine it was blooming in June timeframe, 4 years ago this June.
You are in Quebec and I am in Ontario, so I thought our conditions would be similar.
Thanks

Lagoon · #10 04-30-2007, 12:17 AM

Hi Helen ,

I do have some hybirds, don't know the crosses since they are NOID's 3 of them bloom in the fall - but 1 has not this year, buds have set much later this year, not sure why - perhaps she will bloom during the warmer months the year instead of the fall.

Some other warm growers I have ..

species - Den antennatum - summer bloomer
Species - Den Eximium - spring and fall bloomers
Species primary cross - Den stephen Batchelor (alexandrae x johnsoniae) later in fall / early winter primarily, but can flower other times aswell.

The first 2 are planted in sphag moss the rest are in a bark, charcol and coarse rok mix. I don't stop any of the watering, just lessen the amount. Once spring comes in they drink like fish. During the cooler months they are placed under catteya lights.

Give your Dens as much light as they can handle without burning them. They need high light year around to bloom

HTH