Dendrobium growing keikis like mad, and Nobile + Phal type misbehaviour! What to do?? - Orchid Board

PragmaticOrchidGrower · #1 05-10-2009, 05:18 PM

Hi

So I'm trying to figure out what to do with my Dendrobium Berry Oda. I got it when it was flowering this winter, and it's been a few months since it "finally" stopped blooming (love the pink cloud of blossoms). It already had a couple of keikis when I got it, but now it's just getting ridiculous!

One thing I seem to be confused about is the seasons of the dendrobiums as such... Is it so that after blooming it will start new growth, then rest, then bloom? Or rest before new growth? I have a couple of other types of Dendros that goes mad with new growth when I thought it needed rest (nobile), or starting a new flower spike while it still has a flower spike blooming since a couple of months (phal type).

So basically:

How can I get the Berry Oda to stop producing so many new keikis and get it to rest for a while and prepare for new flower spikes?
Should I stop watering the Dendrobium Nobile plants even though they are producing new growth, or is it heavy fert and water until it stops growing?
What is the normal procedure to get the Phal type dendros reblooming?

Hope someone with vast experience with Dendros can help, I am falling in love with these plants...

camille1585 · #2 05-10-2009, 05:57 PM

Berry Oda is a Dendrobium kingianum hybrid, and from what I know the amount of keikis produced by kingianum and its hybrids varies a lot. Also, right now it should be in full growth (keikis and new canes) until at least late summer. Around late october it needs to start its dry, cool and bright winter rest. Maybe earlier for you since you're so far north.
Den nobiles are the same, and you must water and fert until the winter rest period for the new canes to develop properly. Winter resting Dens bloom, then grow all spring/summer and then need a rest for them to bloom properly again.

PragmaticOrchidGrower · #3 05-11-2009, 03:29 AM

ok, so basically what you're saying is that all behaviour is normal and I just need to keep them all watered and fertilized throughout summer?

You're right about the kingianum hybrid, I think I've read before that it produces keikis, I just think that it's a bit over the top..

Do you think I should keep my Nobile in my greenhouse? They're looking good, but I'm afraid I'm not watering enough or giving them enough light. The new leaves aren't properly opening and it's really leaning towards my west window. The green house will not go below 9 C at night, but it gets properly warm there during daytime and really light!! (almost 30 C and really full light unless I put then in north facing windowsill or under some of the palms)

natasha · #4 05-11-2009, 04:55 AM

no wonder 3-4 of my dens are having keikis! i thought it is abnormal behaviour

i don't know what hybrids thought, they are all noids. i have potted two keikis. but new ones about six are going strong by the day. my neighbour been eyeing my bigger keikis for quite some time, i think i must give one to her... anyway, i am happier if they grow flowers instead of keikis...

camille1585 · #5 05-11-2009, 05:37 AM

I think that for most Dens, they produce keikis when they don't have enough light or when they get too much nitrogen in their fertilizer. Den kingianum is a bit different, they just make keikis because that's what they do! What's nice about their keikiness is that I could give away 4 to a friend.

natasha · #6 05-11-2009, 10:33 PM

ah... it seems i need to study orchids more. i dunno about the nitrogen content though. but i have about 15-20 dens and only 3-4 produce keikis. they are all in the same location now.

but the weird stuff is one stalk of particular plant is producing roots at the end while still in flower. the other stalk on the other hand, is having 3-4 side branches too. my other dens do not have side branches. this plant has been in flower like in january? the flower is attached

sorry jannicke, hijacking your thread!

AboutOrchids · #7 05-12-2009, 12:25 AM

Den. kingianum is very prone to making keikis, especially if it doesn't get its dry winter rest. I bring mine into full sun for winter, which they seem to like. Do you add supplemental light for the dark Norwegian winter?

Blueszz · #8 05-12-2009, 02:30 PM

Hi Jannicke,
also have a Den. Berry Oda and like yours it makes keiki's like crazy :-) (besides new growths on the base of the plant). Every time I inspect the plant I detect a new nubbin high on a cane. I stopped counting them.
In janaury I called the grower and he advised me to put the plant outdoors (it was just above 0 C) and he said I might get more flowers this year. I didn't put it outdoors, and kept it indoors ones it finished flowering. Maybe that is why it produces so manny keiki's now?
Maybe this is an indication that next year we should keep the plant as long as possible cool and dry to get the maximum flower count instead of so manny keiki's??? Don't know :-)
On a German board also was mentioned that Berry Oda produces so manny keiki's.
It sounds like it's normal for this type of Dendrobium.

PragmaticOrchidGrower · #9 05-12-2009, 04:59 PM

Natasha, what beautiful flowers!! LOVE IT! It's good to really discuss Dens as I'm beginning to like these more and more and would prefer to have them reflower as when they do they do so for soooo long!

I was considering bringing the dens that are no longer floweriing out into my greenhouse as it's cooler and much righter. Here in Norway now its almost nine pm and it's only just beginning to get "milky", but it won't be really dark until in the middle of the night. So early summer is good for plants that need a lot of light!

I haven't grown that many light-loving plants until recently, so this winter I think many of my plants though it was a bit difficult. My Nobiles I suspect are longing to get to the greenhouse instead of my west facing office window... but I don't know what low temps they can take?? Apparently the Berry Oda can take quite low temperatures!!

natasha · #10 05-12-2009, 10:22 PM

hi jannicke, this plant really flowers well. i think it might start flowering in december, since the pix i pasted is dated january. it is still bearing lots of flowers now, and its the second flowering after that one. it seems like there's about more than 20 flowers in a stalk. and i don't think it need lots of light.

well, if you see anything like it, be first to grab it. anyway, its a noid - i don't know the name