How do I stimulate den-phal spike?

[tanlu]

Hi all,

I've killed a den in the past so I've shyed away from them until now. I purchased two den-phals, one is a mini, that were out of bloom for $2 each last Friday. They are sitting by the bathroom window which gets southern and western sun all year. There's about 60% humidity all day, and the night temps drop to around 60-65F. Both still have their old flower spikes that are yellowing at the tips, but I'm wondering if it's possible for me to get them to send up another spike this winter? I heard they can send up spikes from old canes.

Should I cut the spikes down to where they meet the top of the cane? I've read from multiple online sources that den-phals can bloom year round, but I've also heard that dens generally only bloom once a year in spring.

What a confusing genus! Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Theo

[Orquiadicto]

I'm no expert at Den. Phals but mine started growing spikes from old canes in August and are blooming now. First bloom opened first week of september. I bought them in bloom in October 2011. In December I moved and for some reason they were quite neglected and even left in the garden in the cold and they have rebloomed.

[Wrebbitrocks]

i just let them do their thing. once a week water and allowing them to dry with nutricote during the growing season. you want to get the fattest canes for long flower spikes mine started spiking in august too and some are opening flowers now. they spike off the top of the new growth in fall and bloom by winter for me in tucson but i do get spike from the nodes of older canes

[WhiteRabbit]

Mine (tho I only have three) usually start spikes mid to late summer. Tho one that has finished blooming does have another small spike coming along now. Perhaps some may be able to bloom at other times of the year as well; it may depend on genetics, and maybe more likely on quite mature plants.

[tanlu]

So does that mean that mine won't flower until spring? The spikes are now completely yellow, but still very stiff, as in they don't look like they'll be coming off by themselves. Should I cut them now?

The nursery only had 3 kinds of den-phals. One of them is the typical light pink one with canes over 12", and has had flower spikes cut back on 3 previous growths, which I guess means it's quite mature and should flower more reliably? The mini one has 6" tall canes, with only its present spent flower spike as its first one. I believe this will have white flowers. Would watering less and lowering temperatures a little induce them to spike?

[Wrebbitrocks]

it might, do research on how the dendrobium phalaenopsis/biggibum flower and grow in nature, some of them have antennatum in there too

[Leafmite]

If the roots are healthy, it gets good lighting, it isn't over-fertilized, and you don't move or repot it, many bloom three or four times a year. My phal-den was blooming almost constantly until it was knocked off a shelf, broke the new cane, and now it has taken a year off but I think I see some bumps forming....