Dendrobium lindleyi var. aggregatum question

[Silje]

My dendrobium lindleyi is having a winter rest at the moment. I stopped watering in beginning of June and was expecting to keep the water and fertilizer away until August or so. This morning I noticed that it's developing a new growth. Well, I think it's a new growth and not a flower spike. I didn't expect it to do this. Is that normal during winter rest? Or is my plant actually not resting?

Now I'm not quite sure what to do. Should I still hold back the water or does the new growth means it has woken up and needs water and food?

So unsure now...

[WhiteRabbit]

I haven't a clue ... I have this happen as well. Hopefully another member can clue us in.

[RosieC]

Sorry, can't help. Giving another bump

[Greenthumb.5]

If it is growing a new lead then grow it in the way when it was not in rest.

But where did you get it from? If you got it recently and its most likely from the nothern hemisphere. The plant is most likely confused from the transition from north to south. But you can get more flowers for each year your plant doesn't bloom.

A picture helps, you know.

[Silje]

Originally Posted by Greenthumb.5

If it is growing a new lead then grow it in the way when it was not in rest.

But where did you get it from? If you got it recently and its most likely from the nothern hemisphere. The plant is most likely confused from the transition from north to south. But you can get more flowers for each year your plant doesn't bloom.

A picture helps, you know.

It's still too small for taking picture and it's kind of hiding in a stupid place where I'll struggle to get a focused shot of it at this stage, but I will take one and show you as soon as it's more visible.

This plant has always been on the southern hemisphere and should not be confused regarding the seasons. And it's been in my care for 8-9 months now.

I decided to water it today. I could not help myself. I figured, like you say, that this plant cannot be winter resting since it's pushing out new bulbs and I decided to provide it with some water at least, although I will hold back on the fertilizer. The active roots apparently liked it and turned green right away. On closer inspection today I found another tiny, tiny shoot as well. Probably one more bulb.

I'm sacrificing flowering to give this plant some moisture and energy to grow. And I'll try again with the winter rest next year.

---------- Post added at 03:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:10 PM ----------

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I haven't a clue ... I have this happen as well. Hopefully another member can clue us in.

What did you do with your, Sonya?

Did you continue to hold back water or did you start watering? And did it flower for you?

[spetrizio]

I would still wait with watering to see what will be.

temperature could be problem if it is too high during rest period.
I keep my aggregatum on 10-12C min temp, and 16-18C max temp during winter period.

[Silje]

Originally Posted by spetrizio

I would still wait with watering to see what will be.

temperature could be problem if it is too high during rest period.
I keep my aggregatum on 10-12C min temp, and 16-18C max temp during winter period.

Temperature could definitely be an issue. I thought holding back water was more important than temperatures, but my plant is definitely exposed to higher winter temps than yours.

Looking at it today, there is no doubt that it is a new bulb developing, and definitely not a spike.

Buuuut, it got another growth developing as well and the jury is still out on that one, but it does look like it could be a spike actually. We will see.

[violetta]

Based on my experience with Den nobiles, the rest period is defined by temperature. I also used to water less when growth was completed, but if temperatures are too high for the plant to rest, new canes appear. Those new canes bloom next season.

[Silje]

Originally Posted by violetta

Based on my experience with Den nobiles, the rest period is defined by temperature. I also used to water less when growth was completed, but if temperatures are too high for the plant to rest, new canes appear. Those new canes bloom next season.

I was hoping that that cool nights would be sufficient and that they would flower despite warm days. My greenhouse is having pretty big temperature variations nowadays from 12 in most nights to close to 30 during the day.

Oh well, if they don't flower this year, I'll just have to make another plan for next year.

[violetta]

The day and night temperatures are quite high. You could stop fertilising it even if you don't reduce water, so that you don't end up with tons of keikis.