Den Yellow Song Canary & Proud Appeal Ace - Orchid Board

Mulchlady · #1 10-21-2008, 10:35 AM

I am new to the forum and new to growing orchids. I grow in a small hobby greenhouse in New Jersey.

I have questions about my two Dendbroiums:
1. Den Yellow Song Canary purchased in flower last year at the Phila Flower Show. I think it belongs to the Nobile family. There is one stalk with leaves and several with no leaves. One of the leafless stalks is growing little points along its stalks. Could this be the start of flowers, or is it re-growing leaves? Also, I stopped feeding in August but still give it water because of the little growth points. Should I stop watering no matter what the plant is doing? Do I keep it cool and if so, what is ideal day/night temps?

2. Den Proud Appeal Ace purchased in '07 from Charley's Greenhouse. It has never flowered. All the stalks have lots of leaves. Is this the same type as Canary (

Nobile)? I have been treating them both the same even though I have no idea what family it belongs to.

I have been reading care infromation, but I seem to be more confused than before I started. Please help!

karren · #2 10-21-2008, 10:50 PM

Yellow Song 'Canary' is a warmth tolerant nobile developed by Yamamoto in HI, see Yamamoto's site. The normal nobile dendrobiums need a cool down to start blooming, (Cool meaning cold night temperatures). Once the spike buds appear the plants can be kept warmer at night to speed up blooming see Culture Cycle. Some in HI have been breeding nobiles so that they don't need cool down to bloom, this is one that does NOT need the cool down. Nobiles do not regrow leaves, probably spike buds

or kiekis

.

phalaephila · #3 10-22-2008, 12:01 AM

Den. Proud Appeal 'Ace' is not a nobile hybrid, not a Den. phal hybrid either. An evergreen type, it will keep its leaves. This orchid will grow best with bright light, intermediate to warm conditions, and OrchidWiz has the following to say about culture:

50%-60% humidity. Keep moist in the Spring-Summer, when plant is in active growth. Grow in a pot with porous, free-draining media. The pot should be small for plant size. Fertilize weekly, weakly (one quarter to half the normal dose). Reduce water/feeding during the cooler months. Common media: fir bark, coconut chunks.

Enjoy, this is a dendrobium which is quite attractive!

jeanne

Mulchlady · #4 10-22-2008, 09:34 AM

Thank you so much for putting me on the right path to research this plant. Knowing what type of Den. I have will make all the difference in providing it with the proper care. I will check out information on evergreen Dens.

This is a wonderful forum!

Mulchlady · #5 10-22-2008, 09:39 AM

Karren, thank you! I printed the care info from the site you referrenced and will use it as resource material. I so hope that the growths along the stem are flower buds. What should I do if the are Kiekis? I don't think I've ever even seen one before?

Mulchlady

karren · #6 10-23-2008, 11:07 PM

The buds are most likely flowers this time of year. I looked at mine that are still outside for their cool down and I saw a few nodes swelling and even two well developed flower buds.

As the nodes swell and then grow you will either see flower buds or a little plantlet (kieki--I've heard is Hawaiian for baby). If the plantlet develops roots you can cut it off and pot it up for a whole new plant. Sometimes when I want the mother plant to have more energy I cut off the kiekis as soon as it is clear that they are kiekis.

Mulchlady · #7 10-24-2008, 10:06 AM

Thanks, Karrren. Another question - Do I continue to water this Den. during fall and winter? As a warmth loving plant it dosen't require a cool dry rest, but do I continue to water and feed at this time of year? I have not fed it since the end of August. I have the same questions for the evergreen Proud Appeal. Do I keep them just slightly dryer at this time of year, or continue with my normal water/feed schedule.

Thanks,
Mulchlady

karren · #8 10-24-2008, 06:51 PM

Phalaephila suggeted reduced water/fert in winter. Usually orchids grow slower here in winter- less light, lower temps-- therefore need less water/fert.

I have the Yellow Song 'Canary' and I treat it with a cool down-- it is currently outside with all the other nobiles. What I like about the nobiles is hundreds of flowers all at the same time-Jan.-Feb. These warm tolerant nobiles drive me crazy- a few flowers in Feb, more in March and into May. Those cold trigger genes must still be there so I'm hopeing for all the flowers at once. Results pending.

So far I don't like the warmth tolerant hybrids; I adore the ones that respond to the seasons we have here in Ohio with exuberant flowering in Feb. I invite all the Hawaiians who want to grow nobiles to move here to the Ohio Valley

-- it is so easy here. Just put them outside in May , bring them in in Nov.

Mulchlady · #9 10-24-2008, 08:41 PM

I brought Canary into the greenhouse about a month ago. I get daytime temps in the upper 80''s with nights in the upper 50's-low 60's. I think I may be in trouble here. As I said earlier, I do have growth nubs along the stem that I'm hoping will be flowers.

I hope I have not made a big mistake. Next year I'll leave Canary outside till November.

I hope I can get Proud Appeal to finally bloom this year.