Den nobile/unicum hybrid forming nubbins on cane... shouldn't it do that in spring!

[RosieC]

I have a Den Stardust which is unicum x Ukon (Ukon being 50% nobile).

It has some old canes with just a single leaf on each, this years new canes still have all their leaves. I cut out fertiliser at the end of August and have been watering less often since then as well.

Anyway... on one of the older canes it has developed four 'nubbins' off the side. I've not had one of this type before but from reading I thought they grew these that turned either into flowers or keikis in the spring.

Is it too early for it to be growing these... does it show I'm not caring for it correctly in some way.

[dendro photo]

When it dose bloom please put up pics.

[Jacaranda]

This is a wonderful hybrid ; unlike many similar ones, which need a cold rest before they will flower, this one flowers when it is good and ready . Don't worry if it seems out of season.
And if some of theose growths turn out to be keikis, just pot them up - extra plants !.
It is the only dendrobe in my collection which will flower on every node, from the top of the cane right down to the bottom , without any special treatment ( and I have dozens of dendrobes , thousands of orchids 1 ).

[RosieC]

Thanks Jacaranda, that's really good to know.

I've actually removed a keiki from it about a couple of months ago that was on it when I bought it. I bought it in flower in March and was hoping for flowers again in the spring but maybe it will do some earlier... we shall see.

I'm not giving the keiki a winter rest and I'm also trying it in hydroton rather than bark. I had started it in bark but the bark was staying too wet and at the same time the keiki was dehydrating. Since going in the hydroton a a couple of weeks ago I've been watering either every other day, or every day if it looks dry and the cane has plumped back up again

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by dendro photo

When it dose bloom please put up pics.

I sure will! I'll be really pleased if I get it to flower again as it will be the first Den which is not a phal type that I've got to flower.

[orchidsamore]

It should flower for you but the higher growths are keiki not flowers. The bottom is not developed enough to tell which it will be.

Keiki develop when you give it Nitrogen fertilizer late in the growing season. You should stop all fertilizer in august.

This tutorial explains a lot about Nobile types.

Care and culture of Nobile Type Dendrobiums

[RosieC]

Thanks Jerry.

I stopped fertiliser in later August when I read something here on OB that I should have already done so. These did start to form arround that time so I bet that's what they are.

Anyway, it's getting just rain water now and only a little of that when it's really dry. It's also in the greenyhouse which will only be heated to keep of frost and no more (currently unheated) so hopefully I'll get those flowers in the spring.