Dendrobium Nobiles Fancy Yellow growing new shoots in August?!

[SoCalOrchidGirl]

Hi everyone,

I bought a Dendrobium Nobiles fancy yellow 2 months ago. I have followed Yamamoto's direction on watering, fertilizing, and light. Last week I noticed 2 new shoots growing at the base. Is it odd that new shoots are growing at the end of August? I know I'm supposed to reduce watering once temperature goes down but how am I suppose to reduce watering when new shoots are growing? Please help! I need to know if the growth cycle is reversed.


Thank you.

[SoCalOrchidGirl]

Any suggestion would help.

[Bulbofett]

I'm not an expert by any means, but if it were my plant I'd go with the flow. Like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream.

If your orchid wants to grow, let it. I certainly wouldn't cut back on watering if there were new shoots. Orchids are pretty good about letting you know what they want.

I'm not sure where you are in the US, but if you're any place that is semi-tropical we've still got a few more months before night time temps see a significant change. My nobiles don't look like they'll be resting any time soon.

[SoCalOrchidGirl]

I live in Southern California. The temperature never gets too cold. But it does get chilly starting in November.

[Bulbofett]

Originally Posted by SoCalOrchidGirl

I live in Southern California. The temperature never gets too cold. But it does get chilly starting in November.

Oh wow I feel silly. Didn't even notice your username till now

Like I said, I'd keep giving it water until it tells you to stop. If the leaves start falling off, the shoots die back, etc... those are signs it is ready for dormancy, but if the growths keep growing then keep on watering

[NYCorchidman]

Did you buy this two months ago in bloom??
If yes, this is very common and natural, and here is why that is.

Nobile hybrids repeat the cycle:
Flower in the early spring (some late spring), at the same time or near the end of the flowering, the new growths develop and these will grow fast and big during the hot summer.
By the mid or end of the summer, the growths mature.
Reduce water gradually beginning the fall and during the winter. During this time, leaves may or may not drop. It really doesn't matter, but when kept cold, the leaves will difintiely fall off.
Late winter into early spring, the buds will set and soon burst into flowers.

I see these plants offered at TJ now during the summer, which is out of their cycle.
So as soon as they finish flowering, they will grow new shoots as these are the ones that will flower next.
You want to grow them as big as possible.
If you grow these outside, the mild (but cool enough from my visit to your climate) winter will cause these new growths to mature short.
It is fine that way and they will still flower but with less quantity. Then from these canes will come new set(s) of canes next year and they will grow in "natural" cycle.

The better alternative might be, try and keep the plant above 65 F minimum night temp and let the new canes get as big as possible well into the end of this year. I think 3-4 months is usually more than enough. So this is definitely an option.
Then you can leave the plants outside, but make sure you keep them from California winter rain.
It may rot the roots if wet too much when cold.

As long as there is no frost, which I don't think is very common there, cold winter is welcome for these plants as that brings out the best flowering.

Happy growing!

[SoCalOrchidGirl]

Hi,

No I purchased mine from marble branch farms. It wasn't in bloom but had multiple new shoots in growth. When I bought it the shoots were as tall as the old shoots. I live in socal so it is a very hot summer but I have my nobile outside all day on my balcony, it faces west so it gets the hot afternoon sun. I watered it everyday and fertilized it until beginning of August. Currently the new shoots that were growing when I received it have tapered off. I checked on it this morning and realized another shoot is coming in beside the 2 small ones I already have. I was hoping for some blooms in spring but because of the new shoots that just started to grow, I can't cut back on watering. I'm confused as what I should do.

[NYCorchidman]

Well, then, it's up to you, but since you say that it already has multiple new shoots that are near mature size, I would just follow the regular nobile care because you will see lots of flowers from those bigger canes, not from these two newer ones.

Two of my nobile hybrids grew canes in the spring one like they should, and some how they are growing some more now just like yours.
This has happened before.

You don't have to worry about cutting back on watering because I water at least once even during the winter rest and keep all the canes as plump as possible.
Some people say stop watering the whole time, but this is not recommended unless you plan to keep your nobile nearly freezing cold, and even then they still need some water, just not as much and not as often.

Anyhow, I would gradually reduce watering and the plant will mature those two newest shoots a little small, or very close to full size. Let's say in the next three months or so.
Come spring, those two may or may not flower, but the other new canes that are bigger should all flower given the proper cool winter rest.

Oh, by the way, I stop fertilizing mine in early July. lol
I might have accidentally sprayed mega thrive on some of my nobiles that could be why, but not sure.

[SoCalOrchidGirl]

Ok great thanks for the reassurance! I thought for sure, my nobile isn't going to flower in the spring because now that the growth cycle has reversed. I bought some seaweed growth hormones from First Ray and all my orchids have grown new roots and shoots, it's pretty amazing. Now if I only can help them flower!

[NYCorchidman]

That makes me want to try seaweed, but I just can't get over the smell. lol

Yes, growths late in season is strange, but as long as there are some that grew in season, you will always see them flower.

I hope to see yours in bloom in spring.
Fancy Yellow sounds amazing!
I used to have a variety called Canary Yellow Song.
They might or might not be the same stuff.