Den. Nobile identify new growth on stem

[sweta]

Hi Orchid Pals,

I bought this Den. Nobile in full bloom from TJs 3 months ago. After blooms fell off I repotted it in bark media. Since then it lost one leaf at the bottom and I see another one yellowing. But I also see 2 new growths - one from the base and one from the lower part of the stem. I think the basal growth is probably a new cane but I'm not sure what the other growth on the stem is. It looks very similar to basal growth but I'm not sure if dens give out secondary canes branching from old canes, do they? I'm attaching some pictures. Please check and let me know your thoughts. This is my first den and I'm not sure what to expect.

Thanks in advance!

[estación seca]

It's a little too early to tell. Those might be spikes or shoots.

[sweta]

I see so there is a chance they could be flower spikes? Even the one from the base? I thought that once a cane has already flowered it won't flower again and only a new cane will produce flowers?

[estación seca]

The base would be unusual but possible. Plants in Dendrobium section Dendrobium, the nobile types and their hybrids, have a meristem at the base of each leaf. This can produce another growth (keiki) or a flower spike. Any meristem that hasn't done anything yet, on any cane of any age, might produce flowers or keikiis.

[sweta]

@Estación They both now look like keikis? Attaching some recent pictures. Please have a look and confirm

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by sweta

I thought that once a cane has already flowered it won't flower again and only a new cane will produce flowers?

Nobiles bloom from ew or older pbulbs (canes).

[Roberta]

Lots of Dendrobiums bloom multiple times from old canes. Some don't even bloom until they have lost leaves after a year or two. I don't cut any canes that aren't completely desiccated and light brown... any that still have substance can bloom or at the very least will give energy to the plant. (I might make an exception for those that are clearly done with blooming if I have a large plant with lots of more substantial canes, but to get to that point takes multiple years, by which time one has a good idea of what has potential to be productive and what doesn't) There are so many that look dead at some parts of the year but aren't, so I also don't dump a dead-looking Dendrobium until it has stayed really dead for a year or so.

[sweta]

Thanks @Roberta for the information. I heard about leaving old canes on dens as it is , even if it doesnt have leaves but didn't know they can produce flower spikes on old canes.

[estación seca]

Those do look like keikiis and not buds. Yamamoto Dendrobiums says the commonest cause of keikiis instead of flowers is fertilizing too late in the year. They recommend not fertilizing after late summer.

[Roberta]

If it was in full bloom 3 months ago, its seasons have been messed with. (Easy to do in Hawai'i) So I would be inclined to treat it according to the current season in your location - water, fertilize no matter what it is doing now. And no worries about the keikis... they can bloom too if left attached to the plant (next spring). If they get big roots, maybe separate and pot them up eventually if you want to, but no need. Day length a spring turns to summer to fall will help it "figure out" the time of year. Stop fertilizing in the late summer/early fall, at which point you will reduce ( but not eliminate) watering. If you can let it get a bit of a chill in fall and winter (perhaps put near a window) that will also help set its calendar for spring blooms.