Dendrobium spatulata/phalante hybrid won't bloom

[flexdc]

Can anyone give me some advice on how to bloom this orchid. I am not a novice grower, but Den. phalante/spatulata type hybrids always give me a hard time. Could be because of our cool night time temperatures here in So. California.

The picture shows last seasons growth, which was grown indoors a couple of feet behind a sheered curtain facing southwest. It got filtered sunlight from 2 to around 4pm. This growth is taller and almost as thick as the original growth of the plant when I bought it.

The plant was moved to a heated cold frame at the end of march. Night time temp mid 50's (13c). The sudden move caused one leaf to burn under our strong spring sunshine.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I grow other types of dendrobiums pretty well... nobiles, farmeri‎, thyrsiflorum. These love the cooler nights!

Andrew

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

In general, Dendrobiums in the section Spatulata are warm growers. Anything below 60 F will not be tolerated well by some species. A few species can be grown outdoors in SoCal without any heating.

Dendrobiums in the section Phalaenanthe can handle temperatures down to 50 F.

Dens in section Spatulata are also large sized orchids. Blooming size is usually between 1 - 2 ft tall.

Lighting should be Cattleya range for Dens in section Spatulata.

Dens in section Phalaenanthe have winter rest periods.

These may be the issues, idk.

I'm far more familiar with the species within both sections than I am the hybrids between the 2 sections.

Imo, quite a few species of Dens in both sections are easy to grow.

[flexdc]

Thank you Philip for your insight. I agree easy to grow, but not easy to flower!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Another possibility for the difficulty in blooming is that it may not be blooming season quite yet.

They may bloom around mid to late spring/early summer.

[flexdc]

Philip,
I hope that's the reason. I bought the plant in June last year I bloom. I am so impatient Lol.