Dendrobium spectabile

[Beverly]

Those are really cool. Your making me want to shop.
Beverly

[bellini girl]

Stunningly beautiful Fang. Looks like quite a big plant. Is that an 8 inch pot?

[snow]

no wonder they call it spectabille.
it,s awsum

[Fang]

thank you. This is one of my favorites

[xionis]

Today, at the 64th International Orchid Show in Miami, FL, I purchased, against my better judgement, A 5" pot of Dendrobium spectabile...just because I have always admired this plant and decided that it was time for me to have one, too. The vendor showed a beautiful plant in bloom. Now, I'm reading your feedback and discover that it is virtually impossible to bloom. Somebody out there knows better. Please offer your advice. I live WAY INLAND (25 miles) from the Gulf Coast of Florida. Although winter temps often reach the upper 20's, I bring all of my "delicate" plants inside any time there is a threat of frost. Thanks for your help! Bob

[catwalker808]

Many years ago, our parent plants would become huge and bloom many spikes. But we had a difficult time blooming younger plants until they reached a very large size. Then we saw various people blooming plants they had gotten from us ... and blooming at relatively young small sizes. 3 canes in 4" or 5" pots.

One person grew in nearly full sun, rainfall, but only occasional squirts from a water hose. Temps ranged from 85-92 degree summers to 62-85 winters. Another grew in medium shade, short winter days, high humidity, rather poor culture. 85-90 degree summers, 65-85 winters. The third was in a foreign country with humid 93-95 degree summers, 60-70 degree poorly lit winter greenhouse. Infrequent watering. Rather poor culture.

There seemed to be little in common between the three. But there was a common thread ... relative NEGLECT.
We were giving our own nursery plants TLC, a light but continuous feed even throughout our "winter". So our plants were constantly putting out new growth, which was interrupting the bloom cycle. It doesn't really take neglect to bloom the plants, but too much food at the wrong time can inhibit blooming.

To get your plants to bloom, give the plants lots of water as long as it's not too cold. But cut off fertilizer from mid September. In the winter, when bloom spikes normally initiate, let your plants experience a shorter day. If you can, let them also experience a day/night temp difference ... 10 degrees difference if possible. The temp differential is not absolutely essential, but it would probably hasten the bloom cycle & improve blooms. But cutting off fertilizer is very important. This makes this species very easy to bloom. Remember, slow release fertilizers also count.

[ewcia1028]

Exellent Fang! I have this dendrobium too and have 4 spikes this year and I am waiting for them to open right know. It blooms for me 2 times a year.It is pretty big orchid.

[ewcia1028]

Originally Posted by xionis

Today, at the 64th International Orchid Show in Miami, FL, I purchased, against my better judgement, A 5" pot of Dendrobium spectabile...just because I have always admired this plant and decided that it was time for me to have one, too. The vendor showed a beautiful plant in bloom. Now, I'm reading your feedback and discover that it is virtually impossible to bloom. Somebody out there knows better. Please offer your advice. I live WAY INLAND (25 miles) from the Gulf Coast of Florida. Although winter temps often reach the upper 20's, I bring all of my "delicate" plants inside any time there is a threat of frost. Thanks for your help! Bob

xionis,mine is not difficult to bloom right know but I was waiting for it to bloom for 6 years but right know it blooms for me two times a year.Good luck with yours.

[nancy]

Oooh, that's a beauty! The plant itself is really brawny, too. This flower is not the work of a serious artist!
Regards - Nancy

[wgama]

What an interesting plant! How do you grow it? Is it hard to grow?