Can I cut off old dendrobium backbulbs?

[kwarren]

Thanks for your advice to keep it long enough to at least see the flowers because you said they can vary in their shapes and color patterns. And I'm glad to hear you say they are fragrant. Good advice!

[Optimist]

I've learned my lesson about cutting off backbulbs too soon. So, think of a backbulb as the plant's stomach, or maybe "larder" or cabinet of food. We humans do not just get energy from the food we eat instantly, it is converted and stored in fat and in the liver (glycogen) and other places in forms the body utilizes. Humans have about 3 days of glycogen, and about 1 month of fat unless they are overweight. You can basically not eat for a month (but you must drink). Back bulbs are where food is stored, it is like the hump on a camel. Roots gain food maybe, but the backbulbs are where that food is stored and ready for usage. Like people, orchids can go a long while without watering and still live (though they may not look good after that).

I have a dend nobile with a few backbulbs ready to go. They are hard and woody and clearly used up. They can be cut off. A fleshy green, even shriveled backbulb needs to stay until it is like a used husk or straw.

I could probably go into my spiel about slow growing CAM plant adaptations, but I have probably boared everyone with that! Look up CAM plants! That is an Orchid, a CAM plant!