Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidChiou
some supplementary info fyi:
Denrobium aphyllum's flower grows on 1-year-old canes. Sometimes older canes grow flowers as well but only a couple flowers.
Denrobium aphyllum requires high sun light. It can even tolerate direct sun light if it gets used to the sun light gradually. Full sun during winter can ensure the greatest number of flowers.
In Taiwan (humidity > 50% most of the time), during dormacy, if you grow it outdoors, more than 1 rain per week will reduce the number of flowers. If there is on average more than one rain per week, you need to put it somewhere with no exposure to rain. I am not sure if this frequency makes any sense for your location though.
In case it still has a lot of leaves on before flowering season, you can simply cut all the leaves off, then it can still grow buds for you.
Note that many other dendorium species do not require the dormacy period. I am only talking about Den. aphyllum.
Finally, you can consider to wrap a bag of fertilizer on top of the board. This way every time you water it, it will get some fertilizer. Den. aphyllum can tolerate much stronger sun light and fertilizer than most other orchids. But of course it's always safer to start from less fertilizer.
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Thank you for the informative post. My biggest challenge as an outdoor grower is providing optimum sunlight in winter without exposing the plant to rainfall. All my high light areas are exposed to the elements and receive rainfall. I'll just have to do my best with the lighting and hope she flowers.