I want nice pseudobulbs! Should I repot again? Dendrobium Red Emporer Prince

[aemiklain]

I bought this guy this spring in bloom and was rewarded with 3 new growths after too! It came in a 5" pot with medium bark, which I thought was a bit too big a pot. I repotted in a 4" with fine bark mix when the pseudobulbs started to shrivel up. The new growths put out loads of new roots and were doing great, the old growths were much plumper for the last month but now seem to have regressed a bit and the leaves are starting to fall now, I like the windows open and it may have been in the 50s recently so i assume thats why. My question is, this bark I use is wonderful for overwaterers because it doesn't retain moisture as long, I like to soak my orchids about every 5 days(I'm in Minnesota so we have quite a variety in the climate deparment and it's starting to get colder. I've noticed when it's time to water this is the only pot that still has plenty of moisture in it, so I'm wondering if I should move up to a medium size bark so it's not so wet constantly. Wondering if I'm having some root issues, they don't seem as white and lively for the last month. Any ideas? Another question, do new blooms form on previously bloomed canes or just new growth?

[WhiteRabbit]

This is a nobile type Den - They do drop leaves from mature canes heading into winter, tho it might be a bit early for that They also need to grow cool, dry, and bright in winter in order to bloom in spring. Mine (species nobile) takes overnight lows in winter down to mid-30s at least. Yours, being a hybrid, I'm not sure if it would be ok going that low, but I don't think that temps in the 50s would be likely to be a problem. Except for the winter 'water rest period' - they like media to be constantly moist. How do the roots look?

[aemiklain]

Thanks, yes it is nobile, after the first cool night it seemed the first leaves started to yellow. The only thing is I think they do get enough water, after a week it's still moist, which may or may not be a problem, probably in the winter it will be, that's why I'm thinking a medium bark, or maybe just water and not soak them.

[Magnus A]

When you replanted this one you probably disturbed the old root a little to much, The old pseudobulbs therefore got shriveled. There is not much to do.
And as Sonya wrote it need a drier and cooler resting period over the winter to flower well. The condition your plant is in is not and if you agree with dead root on old pseudobulbs, nothing to do but really on the new growth and treat them in the best way! Old pseudobulbs will eventually die and dry up eventually.

[Leafmite]

I have this same one, since spring. I am new to these but I think our weather confused it. My dendrobium went into a second growth mode (keiki's, new regular growths). Will these new growths develop normally if I cut off the water and fertilizer next month? Thanks for any help!

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I have this same one, since spring. I am new to these but I think our weather confused it. My dendrobium went into a second growth mode (keiki's, new regular growths). Will these new growths develop normally if I cut off the water and fertilizer next month? Thanks for any help!

My nobile started some new growth recently as well ... Last year (first winter I had it), I didn't start winter rest til around Christmas, as it was growing, and hadn't really dropped foliage. I actually started the rest when I saw nodes swelling (I figured by that time, it was too late) - but it did indeed bloom in spring. I don't know if the time to start winter rest should vary by climate and/or latitude ? The person I got mine from is in Florida, and said he starts the rest near Christmas as well ...

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by aemiklain

Thanks, yes it is nobile, after the first cool night it seemed the first leaves started to yellow. The only thing is I think they do get enough water, after a week it's still moist, which may or may not be a problem, probably in the winter it will be, that's why I'm thinking a medium bark, or maybe just water and not soak them.

You don't want to be soaking this in winter - just a bit of water every week or two, and no fertilizer

[Leafmite]

This was blooming in the spring when I bought it... Christmas it is! Thankyou very much.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

This was blooming in the spring when I bought it... Christmas it is! Thankyou very much.

Well that worked for me, and the person in Florida who gave me the plant (keiki from his species nobile) - I don't know if climate or latitude would change the time one should begin the rest period But it is called WINTER rest, so late fall- early winter (mid-November to late December) would seem to fit that ...

[Leafmite]

It makes sense.