Dendrobium nobile species

[Orquiadicto]

Another one I bought in the show in Barcelona. It's the first nobile species I have. I wonder if it will be very different from the hybrids.

[nenella]

Very Cool purchase ! I love white flowers and I have had this one on my wishlist ever since I got and grew a Hybrid which is still alive & flourishihg (it's at least 5 years ( )
Thanks for posting!
& I really look forward to seeing the blooms
Good Luck & keep us posted.

[Orquiadicto]

Be sure I will. If I can get her to bloom I surely will post pictures. One thing, though, I don't know if the blooms will be white. I'm quite uncertain about the winter rest. I read that she should be in full sun now untill temperatures almost reach freezing point. Not sure about watering. If you have to stop watering, what if it rains and the plant is outside?

[smweaver]

Yes, give the plant as much sunlight as it can handle (which, for D. nobile, if it IS truly the species and not one of its hybrids, is quite a lot). This species is also supremely hardy regarding its temperature requirements, and you can leave it outside in a protected area (protected from rain, that is) as long as the temperatures don't drop to freezing (and even if it's accidentally left outside to experience a sudden freeze, as long as it's dry it should survive just fine). When the temperatures drop significantly, do not be tempted to water the plant very much; just a slight watering every few weeks should be sufficient. The combination of lack of water, strong sunlight and low night temperatures, experienced for a month or two, will cause all (or most) of the leaves to turn yellow and drop. But don't be alarmed, as this is quite natural and not at all dangerous to the plant. After the leaves fall, I usually bring my plants back into the house, where they still don't get much water until buds appear (the buds will usually appear within two to three months after the plants have undergone their winter treatment). In short, this species thrives on a certain amount of neglect during the fall and winter. Good luck with your plant!

Steve

[Orquiadicto]

Thank you Steve. This has been of great utility.

[flexdc]

I don't have the species but a few nobile hybrids. What smwear said is quite correct. I don't know how cold Barcelona gets, but here in Los Angeles, which is also Mediterranean climate, I leave mine outside. In the winter it can occasionally drop down to around 45F which is around 5c at night and it does the plants no harm. I do them in full sun however. For the hybrids, the leaves do not drop as much, but I heard for the species this does happen. I do not water between November and February AT ALL. Any rain it gets is from our winter rains. We don't even get winter rains here that much anymore. But in a wet year, if it rains more than one day, I bring it under a canopy so the rain doesn't get to it as much.
With this treatment, they flower on queue every year. I love nobiles. They are so easy to grow in our climate.

Andrew

[Orquiadicto]

Thank you. Here it can get sometimes below cero. Last winter we had one night with -7°C. Perhaps that's too cold for them. I'll follow your cultural hints and hope for the best.

[flexdc]

Yes definitely -7 you will kill the plant to it's roots or even the roots!
I would say if the temperature is to drop below 5 c, bring it indoors.
Don't forget Sun. They must have cool and sunny. This mimics the winter monsoon season in subtropical South East Asia.
Andrew

[Orquiadicto]

It is getting sun whenever the sun shines, but in the afternoon. Anyway, I'll have to find her another place where she can get a lot of sun, but at the same time be protected from rain. I'll bring the hybrids outside also. Now they're inside, with lots of sun, but no air movement.

[flexdc]

Sun from 1:00 am onwards will be enough. That is how much my plants get, half a day.