D. kingianum evaluation, and advice?

[ColoradoBirddog]

well, in the past, I never had luck with dendrobiums. But, I wanted to give it another try. Now I have 4!

Ok, so I was told to "bake" dendrobiums to get them to thrive. I've got them outside of the terrarium, and next to a western window. So, it get some light throughout the day from my grow light, but it also gets about 5 hours of direct sunlight. Am I giving it too much light?

This particular one came as a couple of keikis. As you can see, it's got a pretty mature keiki as well. In the 2nd photo, you can see 3 growths on the right. They're a little loose in there. So, I'm wondering. Can/should I separate that mature keiki, and repot it? I'd like to keep them together.

[estación seca]

There are Dendrobiums from many different climate types, so it isn't possible to give general advice good for all of them. They all like lots of water during the growing season.

Kingianum does like as much light as possible throughout the year, short of burning leaves. It needs a very cool and bright winter to flower well. People in cold-winter climates have a hard time keeping it cool and bright enough through the winter without a cold room and supplemental lighting. Without adequate cool and light they tend to form keikiis rather than flowers.

You could separate the offsets and pot them up now.

If you tell us what your growing environment is like through the year, people can recommend Dendrobiums that might do well for you. What is it like in summer, and in winter?

[ColoradoBirddog]

Thanks for the info.

It's grown in dryer air, and without air conditioning, up to about 80 during the day. Like I said, it gets light from the grow light starting at 0530, and then the sun hits it about 1300 till 1900, right now.

I think that from what you say, it should like It's spot in the winter. It will still get the direct western light, but of course a few hours less. That room won't get above 66 during the day. I can even put it closer to the window, if it needs cooler.

[estación seca]

What are temperatures in the growing area in the winter? Kingianum probably won't bloom unless winter nights are routinely 50-55 F / 10-12C or below.

[ColoradoBirddog]

It's in an interior room, facing west. Max 64-66f. If I put it right next to the window, it might get that cool. Our winter nights will get quite cold.

[estación seca]

In winter you want it to get down below 55 F every night for a good 6-8 weeks in order to bloom. Winter days don't need to be that cool. The nobile dendrobiums also need this, but many other Dens do not.

[Fairorchids]

Here in NJ I take my Den. kingianum & speciosum outside as early as I can get away with. Officially last frost date is May 15th, but I usually take them out in late April. If we get a temps below 30F, I have to bring them back in.

They go into full sun (that early I can do it without hardening in shade first). By mid May, they should be hardened in light shade for a few days.

During outdoor season, lots of water and fertilizer every 2 weeks.

Sept 15th: No more fertilizer. If you feed after this date you get keikis in lieu of flowers.

Oct 15th: Reduce watering by 90% (I go from twice weekly to once a month).

They stay outside till first frost is forecast. This can be as early as mid Oct, or as late as mid Dec. You need to protect plants against fall rains after Oct. 15th.

Inside I place them as bright and cool as I can. Once flower spikes form, I start to increase watering somewhat. When spikes show fully formed buds, I go back to watering twice a week. Once flowers open, I start to fertilize again.

Repeat.

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

Here in NJ I take my Den. kingianum & speciosum outside as early as I can get away with. Officially last frost date is May 15th, but I usually take them out in late April. If we get a temps below 30F, I have to bring them back in.

They go into full sun (that early I can do it without hardening in shade first). By mid May, they should be hardened in light shade for a few days.

During outdoor season, lots of water and fertilizer every 2 weeks.

Sept 15th: No more fertilizer. If you feed after this date you get keikis in lieu of flowers.

Oct 15th: Reduce watering by 90% (I go from twice weekly to once a month).

They stay outside till first frost is forecast. This can be as early as mid Oct, or as late as mid Dec. You need to protect plants against fall rains after Oct. 15th.

Inside I place them as bright and cool as I can. Once flower spikes form, I start to increase watering somewhat. When spikes show fully formed buds, I go back to watering twice a week. Once flowers open, I start to fertilize again.

Repeat.

This is great guidance. Would you treat a nobile in the same way?

[ColoradoBirddog]

So it might be a good idea for me to go ahead and put these outside, even at this late point? Once concern though is, our sunlight at 7300' is pretty harsh. My options would be east side, or west side of house. Another thing is, we have a day/night temperature differential of 20-30 degrees.

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

This is great guidance. Would you treat a nobile in the same way?

Almost identical, except for the full sunlight. The 'Aussie' Dendrobiums have very leathery leaves, which can handle full sun.

Den. nobile has more tender foliage. It can be hardened in 2 steps, first a week in medium shade and then a week in very light shade, then into full sun. I did it one year, but decided that it is too much work, so now they stay inside. If I had a spare shade table outside, I might bring them outside in the future.

---------- Post added at 08:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 AM ----------

Originally Posted by ColoradoBirddog

So it might be a good idea for me to go ahead and put these outside, even at this late point? Once concern though is, our sunlight at 7300' is pretty harsh. My options would be east side, or west side of house. Another thing is, we have a day/night temperature differential of 20-30 degrees.

The light at 7300' might be an issue, but if you harden them for 7-10 days in light shade, I think that it will be OK.

The temperature swings are not a problem. Both kingianum & speciosum grow in areas, where they can see light frost in the winter, and temperatures up to 110-120F in summer.