'Tis the season...for D .nobile questions - Orchid Board

beaniebeagle · #1 10-18-2009, 12:50 PM

i try to keep mine dry and give as much light as my 400w can give. but i always seem to get either one flower or keiki's

can anyone comment on giving absolutely NO water while it's resting

i saw someone talk about giving no water for some of their other dendrobiums, such as anosum, and they always get flowers

Donald · #2 10-19-2009, 10:04 AM

I keep my nobiles outdoors until the temps get to the high thirties. As far as water goes, the plants get a daily misting and are only watered lightly once a month. Very lightly. I've never gone without giving any water, but with everything I have read you should be able to do it. I just never had.

stefpix · #3 10-19-2009, 11:00 AM

Donald so you take them inside in Dec or Jan? Once you take them in the temperatures will be at least 30 F warmer. Will that affect the plant? around what time of year you start watering normally again?

stefano

Donald · #4 10-19-2009, 11:16 AM

Oh no! Here in Massachussetts bringing them in is dictated by the outside temps. They are usually in by November or before any freeze or frosts. When they are indoors I have them in a sunroom where the temps vary from the very high 50's at night to mid 70's during the day.

mspatt · #5 10-25-2011, 12:51 PM

Help!! I was all ready to with hold water from Halloween to Valentine's Day, but my Yellowsong 'Canary' has a ton of little nubs that I assume are going to turn into buds...Can someone with more experience (this is my first nobile) tell me what to do. Is it all right to keep watering until the blooms have passed or will this upset the cycle of the plant. I don't want to miss the blooms, but am not sure what to do for the orchid plant. TIA for any help you can give...

Donald · #6 10-25-2011, 01:29 PM

Just brought them in as the temps here in Massachusetts are going to be in the low 30's. I'll let them rest and mist once or twice a weeks as the root structure is massive and enveloping the outside of both pots. Once a month I then give them a tad of water until they bud.

Donald · #7 10-25-2011, 01:30 PM

Water them. See my other post.

mspatt · #8 10-25-2011, 02:32 PM

Thanks, Donald!! Now I can look forward to some beautiful butter yellow blooms...

NYCorchidman · #9 11-14-2011, 03:35 AM

For Den. nobile, you should still give them water during the winter rest. When instructions say keep them dry, it doesn't mean bone dry, but less frequent watering. Failing to withholding water completely will shrink the canes to a point where the plants are harmed and hence the flowering will be bad if at all. In the nature, Den. nobiles get lots of moisture every day in the form of highly humid air in the mountains. So daily misting will be ideal, or watering every once in a while depeding on how the canes look is necessary to see lots of flowers.

Regarding bringing them back in the house, you want to leave them in the cold (not freezing cold, which will also harm the plant) until you see th flower buds forming. Then you can bring them indoor where the night temperature isn't too high. Otherwise, bud might drop altogether due to stress.

Exposing them to as much sun as possible (direct sun) ensures more flowers.
I grow mines in the south facing balcony that is glass covered all around. So plants stay quite cold during winter but never experience the freezing.
I leave them there until spring and let the nature take care of the flowering season, which is usually early spring.
Remember not to bring them inside where night temperature is too high all of a sudden. Most buds, if not all, will blast.
If you bring them inside before buds are formed, then you may not see the flowers. Nobiles need at least one month (depending on the hybrids) of chilling before being able to flower normally.

So if you are unable to give them this necessary condition, well, you are doomed. You can try and find a neighbor or a friend who has unheated sunroom or balcony that's protected from freezing but still stays quite cold like mine.

Many leaves are turning yellow on my Yellow Song and Love Memory, (Oriental Smile Fantasy is still growing)and some of them begin to show swelling of buds already. still a long wait until the flowers come, but well worth the wait.

Wish you the best!

mspatt · #10 11-14-2011, 08:33 AM

Thanks for all that information--I needed a quick course in how to take care of nobiles because I only have a few. I am really glad to know that your leaves are turning yellow and falling too. Mine are doing the same thing, but the buds are elongating and getting fuller.I saw your posting about your Yellow Song last year and it was fabulous. I only have about ten or twelve buds (first bloom for me), but I want to keep them in good health til they bloom. I'm hoping that someday my plant will look like yours.Thanks for responding!!