Help with Den. Kingianum(not growing)

[sweta]

Hi Orchid Pals,

Need some help with Den.Kingianum. I've had this Den.Kingianum for close to 2 years now. I got it bareroot with a flower bud on ebay from someone. Since then the bud bloomed and shortly after there was another new psuedo bulb. After this I haven't seen any more growth from this plant. It did develop some roots but other than that nothing more. I have Den. Nobile which has been thriving but this one has been struggling. I wondered if it could be something to do with water as our tap water is more alkaline but from what I read up online. Dens like alkaline medium maybe thats why maybe Den. Nobile's been thriving. Its under grow lights in the winter and summer gets morning sun on window sill. Its potted in orchiata bark. I live in the pacific northwest, seattle area. Its fed with fertilizer weekly during summer and winters once every two weeks. I heard that den. kingianum is one of the easiest to grow but my experience has been otherwise what can I do to help it thrive and grow?

[Roberta]

I don't think that Den kingianum is particularly fussy about water quality. Keep it well watered especially in the growing season. Don't feed in winter, but do water (maybe a bit less than in warmer weather)

[estación seca]

I don't think it will grow much if 70 F / 21C is the warmest it gets. It likes warm to hot summers.

[sweta]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I don't think it will grow much if 70 F / 21C is the warmest it gets. It likes warm to hot summers.

Hmm thats a bummer no wonder its not happy. Will try to leave it out in the summer. Can I put it under direct sunlight or does it need shade?

---------- Post added at 10:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

I don't think that Den kingianum is particularly fussy about water quality. Keep it well watered especially in the growing season. Don't feed in winter, but do water (maybe a bit less than in warmer weather)

Thanks Roberta, sure will stop feeding fert. during winters.

[Roberta]

You want to increase light on any orchid gradually. But Den kingianum can take quite a bit of light once it gets to that point. I'd say "bright shade" or "filtered sun". At your latitude, light intensity is less of an issue than farther south, though I know that it can get toasty at mid-day in summer.

[estación seca]

I didn't grow this in Seattle but it can take direct Arizona sun at temperatures a little over 100 F / 38C if air circulation is excellent. As Roberta said, move it gradually into the sun. It's like a person going out into the sun after a long, dark winter.

[sweta]

Thanks Roberta and es will follow your suggestions.

[Subrosa]

Once they're acclimated to it, I keep my kingianum in close to full sun at 40°N latitude, for as long as a freeze isn't expected. They'll see upper 90sF in the summer, and high 30s-low 40sF in the fall before they come in. Then in the basement they're under moderate light at a pretty steady high 50s-low 60sF.

[Kittyfrex]

I got mine earlier in the year, but quite a bit larger than yours. All the roots were dead, but it had since rooted like hell in moss, outside, getting blasted by several hours, from 7ish till 12-13pm during summer. No signs of damage, what so ever. It grew two new leaves and 2 new growths since i got it (the growths are still small), but you can feel how good it had established.
Honestly, I am finding out that most of the cold hardy dendrobs like A LOT more sun than one would think an orchid would. Hottest it was this year was 39C (102.2F) and like i said, didn't even sweat in that sun (~6 hours average, will be more come winter time).

[sweta]

Hello friends,

Just wanted to you an update on my kingianum. I see a tiny nub emerging from the soil so probably its growing a new pseudobulb. As you all said light seems to have been the reason why it wasnt growing at all. I increased the grow light intensity quite a bit and now it seems to be growing. I never realized den kingianum needs such a high intensity of light. Thank you all so much for your suggestions, helped me a lot. I almost gave up on it.