Nobile Den. NOID bloom and question

[silken]

Here is a picture of a NOID Nobile type dendrobium that I got last year in bloom. It has all of 2 flowers now, so I obviously still have not figured out how to bloom these guys properly. I have another one with 3 buds. I think I am letting them get too dry in the winter. I increased their water from none all winter last year to a few light waterings and mistings this winter. I think it will be a bit more next year and see what happens. This one bloomed on the cane that was full of blooms last year when I bought it. There are 2 other mature canes with no buds. But in one of the photos I attached, it shows that the two flowers are coming from a tiny keiki on the cane. Has anyone else ever seen this? The flowers are a good size too (about 2 1/2 inches across) and the keiki is tiny but with inch long roots. Too bad the other canes aren't as eager to bloom as this tiny keiki!!

[WhiteRabbit]

just giving you a
hope someone can help you out

[silken]

Thanks WhiteRabbit!

[gnathaniel]

That's a nice one, Silken! Definitely worth growing. How tall do the canes get and is it fragrant?

In my limited experience with this group of Dens, restriction of water isn't as important as cooler temps for making blooms. Drafty windows and semi-heated spaces, coupled with strong SW light and no or very light fertilizer, have given me my best results so far.

I don't keep mine particularly dry throughout the winter, though watering drops off some with cooler temps. I try to follow the plant's cues and water enough to keep canes from shriveling and in some cases leaves from dropping off. Ones that quickly go deciduous in cooler temps get less water, and the ones that keep their leaves a bit more. Definitely don't be afraid to fiddle with conditions, these plants are tough and seem tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions.

Pretty cool that the keiki is blooming already. Feel free to send it my way if it needs a home away from its mother plant someday.

--Nat

[silken]

Thanks for the tips Nat. Much appreciated. Although it came with no tag, I am sure it is Den. Star Sapphire, one of Yamamoto's nobile hybrids. It looks exactly the same although it will remain a NOID. retail-Den.Star Sapphire 'KOS' HCC/AOS
It has a nice fragrance (spicy sweet) but not overwhelming. The tallest cane is 16 inches. I was recently at an orchid show and was talking to one of the guys who sells these and he too was telling me he still waters them over winter. His den's looked much plumper and nicer than mine! It had been really emphasized in our society etc. not to water between Halloween and Valentine's Day so that's what I did the first year. This year with a bit of moisture I got a few blooms. So I have big hopes for next year with a bit more watering I grow them in a greenhouse that goes to about 55 at night and 65 in the daytime in winter under two 4 ft. T5 lights very close to them. I think light and temps should be OK. They get a lot of light and warmth in summer.

If it weren't for the international border between us, this keiki would be headed your way as soon as the flowers are done