Den. Nobile ready for rest?

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Hi

I see there has been some discussions about the upcomming winter rests for many dendrobiums.

My Den. Nobile started growing late this year (I bought it in June, so it only started growing new roots in August). anyways, I think it is too soon to begin to slow the waterings-- twice now I have waited longer in between waterings, and the two mature pseudobulbs are completely shrivelled. The two large and 1 smaller new canes are almost mature and pretty much completed and there is still LOTS of root growth.

What should I do? Any tips?

Cam

[JennS]

I am certainly no expert, and you will probably get a wide variety of responses, but I feel that if there is still alot of growth going on that it is too soon to enter dormancy. My concern would be the climate in which the plant was grown before your purchase. Did you buy it locally or have it shipped? I think that a shipped plant might be on a different schedule then your Canadian winters, but if you did buy locally then it may have just been on it's own cycle anyway.

That being said, going by the other posts (I have been follwing them as well), i think the general concensus was that if it is still growing, wait a little longer. Most people replied that they either slow or stop watering all together around Nov. 1. Luckily that is still a couple weeks away, so your plant may slow between now and then. I think the severe shriveling is a clue that it's not ready to go thirsty just yet.

I *think* that once the other canes appear mature, you should slow watering and then eventually stop all together, preferrably Dec and Jan will be the full rest. I have heard people say they put it on a shelf and ignore it for 5 or so months and then it blooms profusely. I haven't done this yet, so I don't know, but I think a rest period is inevitable.

Do you grow indoors? If so, you might be able to adjust the rest period slightly by changing the light cycles to mimick the regular pattern (less hours of light, temp differences, etc.)

Anyway, that's my thoughts which may or may not have good points so hopefully you will get more responses soon...

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JennS-- No, I bought it locally, but, I like to grow in sphag moss so I always re-pot my plant when I get them. Since the moss is much different from bark, the old roots died, and it took a while to start the new growth. This is my first den. nobile, so I have never had this issue before.

Thanks for your reply- I think it needs a bit more growing time as well!

[Ross]

I think this may be your problem (situation) the moss. Nobile types aren't suited all that well for moss unless carefully watched. In our northern latitudes, the growths should be mature by now (or at least close to it) and ready for dormancy. Mine are nearly a meter long and I just started with holding water 2 days ago. I would recommend continuing their growth for the next winter season then repot or remount without moss. They really don't need moss at all. They want a quick soak then a total dry down every day. Just give up the next bloom and slowly ween them from the moss to a coarse bark or even a mount.

[(..._...)]

Originally Posted by Ross

I think this may be your problem (situation) the moss. Nobile types aren't suited all that well for moss unless carefully watched. In our northern latitudes, the growths should be mature by now (or at least close to it) and ready for dormancy. Mine are nearly a meter long and I just started with holding water 2 days ago. I would recommend continuing their growth for the next winter season then repot or remount without moss. They really don't need moss at all. They want a quick soak then a total dry down every day. Just give up the next bloom and slowly ween them from the moss to a coarse bark or even a mount.

I have mine drying out within two days. I know that moss isn't preferred, but I can't grow in bark for some reason... I'll post some pics tomorrow of the root system (its in a clear pot), and it is doing very well. My only issue was that it was set back a few weeks in terms of growth, but that would have happened to me regardless of whether it was in bark or moss.

[Sandy4453]

The only plants I use sphagnum moss in are my Bulbos and Dend. nobiles (all Yamamoto's). I also find them drying within 2 days.

So long as yours is still actively growing, keep watering. I would definitely hold back on any fertilizers. I stop fertilizing the nobiles in August, long before they go into rest. The plants leaves should begin to start yellowing which would be a cue instead of expecting this to happen as a result of withholding water. Probably not what you want to hear but sometimes, it takes a cycle or 2 before the plant is in sync. with the environment it's been kept in before you can expect blooming.

Please keep updating it's progress. Good luck!

[Lagoon]

I would just continue allowing it to grow and mature. For some nobiles it could be a full year of growth before the leaves drop. Colder tempts will also make them drop off.
Last year mine bloom in sept after a 5days of cooler tempts down to the mid sixties, Normally it would have bloomed in spring, I also didn't hold any water or ferts back - just didn't think it would bloom at that time.

Don't forget older canes have the ability to rebloom.
Dens are funny lil buggers

[Sandy4453]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

Last year mine bloom in sept after a 5days of cooler tempts down to the mid sixties, Normally it would have bloomed in spring, I also didn't hold any water or ferts back - just didn't think it would bloom at that time.

This is very interesting, Lagoon. I've read that nobiles in s/h go on to succesfully bloom so long as fertilizing is withheld but I didn't know that continuous watering & fertilizing, would bring on these results. So, the only difference yours received was in the drop in temps? Live and learn....