den that never bloomed has new stalk

[paamul]

I bought this den 3 1/2 years ago in beautiful bloom. The second year it grew a new stalk but no spikes. I repotted it a 1 1/2 years ago and that didn't seem to help. I almost threw it out but I hate to toss a green plant! It has now produced another stalk and I'm making sure it gets more sun and some regular weak fertilizer when watering. I'm not real sure what else I can do for this poor thing. Any help would be appreciated.

[Leafmite]

If it is a phal-type dendrobium, once the culture is right and it has time to grow, you will get blooms three times a year. These need good, bright light. I live in a cooler climate and put mine out for the summer where it gets some direct light and a few inches away from a south-facing window in the winter. If you've recently started giving it the conditions it needs, in a few months, it will start spiking. The spikes often go up quite quickly. In warm weather, (over 60'F at night), this can go outside where it gets morning sun. If it gets really hot, a lightly shaded spot will work.

[paamul]

Yes, it is a phal/den hybrid. I might just put it outside as you say and just bring it in when it goes under 60. It's really mild here in New Orleans right now. Hope it blooms soon. I've just about lost patience with this stubborn orchid.

[WhiteRabbit]

I found my den-phals like pretty bright light. If it's now getting more light, hopefully it will bloom this year - so far mine all seem to be seasonal bloomers, spiking in summer to bloom in fall. I have a couple that rebloom on previously bloomed canes, or even on older but not previously bloomed canes.
Good luck!

[Merlyn]

It looks like a baby plant to me ! I see only 3 canes. As with a lot of mass produced orchids they are forced to bloom as quickly as possible so they can be up for sale. It sometimes takes years for the plant to readjust to a normal UN-forced cycle. I waited 4.5 years for my Dtps. Kenneth Schubert 'Blue' to bloom again after buying it in bloom from Home Depot !!!! It turned out to be sequential and hasn't stopped since August 2010 !!! Dens DO like to go outside, be potbound and dry out between watering. I have 2 that I mounted and they are one of the few that don't care to be watered every day and that's just fine with me !

[AJW]

Think about its natural growing environment. For some den's to flower you need to restrict the water for a period. This could be up to 11 weeks. Others in my collection that have proven to be stubborn I have mixed up a weak solution of Epson salts two doses about a week apart has worked for me. Looks a nice healthy plant. Whats its name. I also had a den that took 7 years to flower now it won't stop.

[grasshopper]

I have a phal-type den that refused to bloom for me for 2 years. I finally set it in the brightest spot on my porch and basically said "bloom or fry". Reason won over and it gave me blooms.

Since then, I've really pushed the light on my phal-type dendrobiums. I put them outside in the spring and summer and they get full morning sun and bright shade the rest of the day. The leaves are bright apple green, which is an indicator that they're getting the light they need/want. I don't bring them back in until the night time lows are consistently around 50-55 F.

I've tried the Epsom salt mix and it seems to work on my stubborn phals. I usually mix in 1 Tbsp per gallon of water, place the orchid in a large bowl and water with the entire gallon. I then place the orchid in the sink and water again with the water from the bowl so that the orchid gets 2 good drenchings with the solution. Set it back outside in it's sunny spot and repeat in a week. After that, I water as usual and most of the time I get spikes within a week. Don't know if that will work on a phal-type den, but it works like clockwork on my phals.

Give it a try, and really push the light limits on it...hopefully that will work. Good luck!

[paamul]

Thanks to all for replying. I bought this orchid from the Orchid society that was selling some at a local plant show. Unfortunately I lost the tag with the name of the orchid on it. But I do remember that it was a phal/den hybrid.

It has two other stalks. One that had a spike when I bought it, another that grew very fat and too green but never produced any flowers and the new one.

I did put it through a period of water deprevation but not for as long as 11 weeks . . . probably more like 8.
I didn't think it'd be a good idea to stop watering it with this new spike.

Should I again stop watering it?

[grasshopper]

Phal-type dens do not need a dry rest period. They do like to dry out between waterings, but I usually water mine once a week if inside and 2x a week if outside.

[paamul]

Thanks for the advise. I just put my two problem orchids (one a den the other a den phal hybrid) outside. I'll bring them back inside if it goes below 55 degrees.