Dendrobium nobile hybrids blooming early

[silken]

Originally Posted by ron-in-norcal

Thanks, Silken, I'll order some and try them out. I think where I live just east of San Diego should be good. Summers are warm, winters are cool, but most winters do not reach freezing (though they come close). Probably have to water them more in summer due to the low humidity, etc.

I think they like a fair bit of water in summer. Our humidity is usually low here too. Maybe that is my problem, not enough water in summer. I keep trying! I think you should try some as they are lovely when in bloom and last quite a while.

[ron-in-norcal]

Yes, I'm trying to limit what I buy, and am right now looking at 5. I was trying to limit it to 3, but then keep seeing more that I want!

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by flexdc

Actually I practice the no watering regiment as well. Some dens, namely lindleyi, will not flower unless this is strictly observed. However, my dens do get rained on, but usually that does bit amount to much.
One observation, if the new canes weren't developed well during the growing season, they will not flower no matter what kind of treatment you give them. To make the new canes grow well, I find that they need summer heat. I used to live close to the beach and day time high seldom reached 80 degrees, all my nobiles did not put out strong plump canes.
If your summers aren't particularly warm, I would summer them inside.

Andrew

Let's confine it to nobile hybrid to avoid any confusion in the discussion.

These do not necessarily need hot temperature. They just tolerate hot summer. Anything above 70, Ideally over 75 and significantly lower evening should be fine.
I have a friend in Seattle where summers can be warm but not that warm with Ocean front cool breeze and frequent mist grow these perfectly with perfect flowering.

By the way, I grow mine on the windowsill getting full sun, so they do get cooked during the summer.

Fattening of the cane has to do with watering. Certain varieties stay skinny the whole summer until the fall comes, while certain varieties fatten up as they grow.
You have to observe the growth pattern of the plant and water a lot when it's time for them fatten up. You miss this period then nothing will fix "the problem"

[ron-in-norcal]

NYC, thanks for all the tips, they're very helpful!

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by silken

My nobiles are fragrant and they are Yamamoto hybrids.

Mine live in the greenhouse in the summer and winter. Summers I struggle to keep temps below 90F and winters are 65 day and 55 at night. Last year the nobiles were on the windowsill where it had to be very much cooler, without freezing. I get a few blooms but never excess amounts. Since I have 150 orchids, maybe these are a tad neglected-I don't know. My 2 Cyms are in full spike but they actually begin spike in the fall before I even bring them in. Maybe I should keep the nobiles outside in fall with them.

Your temperature range is great.
Try good watering, cooler temp (Yamamoto website recommends minimum night low of about 58, so you are just below. lower the better, trust me!)
Yes, leave them out until the first frost, by then you should see many little spikes sprouting out. Reduce water when it is very cold enough to have frost outside, but they will be fine as long as kept really really dry. Then bring them in the greenhouse where it is 55 ish. Bringing them home where it is much warmer than outside can blast all the buds.

---------- Post added at 01:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:56 PM ----------

Originally Posted by silken

I think they like a fair bit of water in summer. Our humidity is usually low here too. Maybe that is my problem, not enough water in summer. I keep trying! I think you should try some as they are lovely when in bloom and last quite a while.

Water water water!!! I cannot emphasize that enough!
Any living thing is mostly water. When things are increasing in size, it's all water.

Nobiles have very short and distict growth season.
You want to water them almost every day unless it is in straight moss that does not dry out in a day.
Different varieties fatten up the new cane at different times, but by ample watering while the plant is in active growth, you don't have to guess when that time is.

Once you see the top end with no leaf or terminal leaf and the new cane is very plump in the late summer or early fall, then you can start watering less, but never dry.

---------- Post added at 01:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:00 PM ----------

Originally Posted by ron-in-norcal

NYC, thanks for all the tips, they're very helpful!

My pleasure!

Not all of them are fragrant, but almost all of them are.
Some are more strongly scented than others.
It is mostly sweet honey with slight citrus kick depending on the variety. Some has slight musky hint to it as well, but mostly just sweet and nice.

Of the ones I have grown, my favorite fragrance are from
Oriental Smile 'Fantasy' (sweet and citrusy), Love Memory 'Fizz' (Fancy Angel Lycee, Spring Dream all have the same scent, so pick one based the color you like as they all smell the same and nice, sweet floral scent), Red Emperor 'Prince' (this one I can't describe but it is different in a good way)

Yellow Song 'Canary' can be very fragrant depending on the plant if you get lucky.

[ron-in-norcal]

I managed to reduce my order to just 4 nobiles: Yellow Paney 'March', Comet Kin "Akatsuki', Fancy Angel 'Lycée' and Sea Mary 'Snow King'. It's been so many years since I had any of these, and I wasn't that diligent with them back then. So, hopefully these will work well!

[NYCorchidman]

Good selection!

[silken]

I forgot, I have Comet King 'Akatsuki' as well but it hasn't bloomed for me.

[ron-in-norcal]

I'm hoping the conditions here are right for them, Silken. The ones he's shipping are not in bud, but most of them are blooming size. So, we'll see if the cool nights here during the winter (and dry), will trigger the flower buds. Hope so!

[silken]

Originally Posted by ron-in-norcal

I'm hoping the conditions here are right for them, Silken. The ones he's shipping are not in bud, but most of them are blooming size. So, we'll see if the cool nights here during the winter (and dry), will trigger the flower buds. Hope so!

I'm sure they will do well for you! Enjoy