Dendrobium nobile hybrids blooming early

[NYCorchidman]

So these guys normally bloom around February into April for me, but this year, they all decided to bloom in the early winter I guess.

We had some early cold snap back in October, but that was only about two weeks or so, and my windowsill doesn't get that cold.

I am surprised how nice the blooming on Spring Dream 'Kumiko' (the white/pink one), heavily loaded on two tall canes.
You can see Oriental Smile 'Fantasy' (which is my favorite) also in bloom in the back. The flowering isn't nearly as nice as the pink one, but better than last years performance.

In between the two are Sea Mary 'Snow King' also coming into spiking, although it doesn't show in the picture.

I have one more of these Yamamoto nobile hybrids, Country Girl 'Warabeuta' bought in bloom at a show in February this year, which is also coming into spiking.
This one is very short variety, so I've been stiking the whole plant in the fridge every night. The spiking is getting better and better. yay!!!

[flexdc]

Very nice and I am a bit jealous

[NYCorchidman]

You should try these.
You might have trouble with the tropical cousins, but the nobile hybrids should do fine. You could even leave them outside in the winter, well, except you want to protect it from the deary winter rain in California. lol

[flexdc]

Hey Orchid man, I have a few of these already and they are my all time favorites. However they never flower this early. Usually Jan or Feb.
Love the color in yours !
A

[WhiteRabbit]

Beautiful!

[NYCorchidman]

I have never had nobiles blooming this early. They are gone crazy this year I guess. in a good way, maybe.

This one, Kumiko, just opened up. It is supposed to be darker pink but with the way it is now, it looks much like Fancy Angel Lycee.

Yeah, nobile hybrids are my favorite plants!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

OMG, this is my dream come true, I so so hope my will bloom after winter rest. Absolutely awesome!

[NYCorchidman]

Thanks, Tommy!

I'm sure you will have a good flower show after the winter. Just make sure they do not get rained on.
How are your plants by the way??

You should check out Yamamoto Dendrobium website. They are based in Hawaii and ship out worldwide.

You will DIE over the pictures of beautiful flowers on their website!!!

I only have four now, but I would love to have Love Memory and Yellow Song again.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Thanks God rained stopped some 3 days ago, and so far with help of fans and repot everything seems good, will see. I did visit his website many times, saw them, horrible jealousy:-) I got 3 of his this year in summer, so this will be first winter rest and hope for them to bloom, we do not definitely have any cold nights like you guys, and I read that you put it into the fridge, really? How do you do it, please details, when do you start, for how long, does it really help and not kill the plant? When did you stop watering, really strange they do bloom so soon, it was very short dry rest:-)

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Thanks God rained stopped some 3 days ago, and so far with help of fans and repot everything seems good, will see. I did visit his website many times, saw them, horrible jealousy:-) I got 3 of his this year in summer, so this will be first winter rest and hope for them to bloom, we do not definitely have any cold nights like you guys, and I read that you put it into the fridge, really? How do you do it, please details, when do you start, for how long, does it really help and not kill the plant? When did you stop watering, really strange they do bloom so soon, it was very short dry rest:-)

I'm glad to hear that the rain has finally stopped.

Yeah, my dream is to have a big enough green house with all of Yamamoto hybrids growing beautifully in it!

Which ones did you get?? and what size? I know they have three sizes.

Somewhere on the Yamamoto website, there is a detailed information regarding the care of these plants.

refrigerator is only for the smallest variety I have (Country Girl) as I have so much food in my fridge.

I used to over winter my nobile hybrids at my friend's unheated glass-covered sunroom. The flowering was just amazing then!
He sold his apartment last year and I no longer have this option anymore, and I got rid of many of my nobiles. I could get them easily, but I like to grow myself, you know?

Well, I keep my favorite, which is Oriental Smile 'Fantasy' AD/AOS, although I was not sure if it would bloom for me at this warm apartment.
Well, to my surprise, it did give me a few flowers. I was not happy, but better than nothing, right?

This year, it is blooming even earlier, but about the same as last time. just a handful. I guess I'd better get used to this and be happy with it.

Now, with the fridge, I simply stick that one plant in the fridge every night. Yamamoto website says one hour per night for about one month is enough, so I usually leave it in at least one hour, but last night I left it in overnight.
It is about 40F in there, so it does not harm the plant at all. These are plants that can take much lower temperature.
It has been about two weeks and I am seeing quite a few buds sprouting already. I think I will continue on for at least another two weeks or so.

I will post pictures of the plant then.

Regarding watering, I never stop watering.
I keep all the canes plump year around. During the growth season, I water daily, but during the "rest" I water much less often. maybe when the pot dries up, which can be once a week or so.

---------- Post added at 10:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:34 PM ----------

Originally Posted by silken

Beautiful., I never get a lot of flowers, just a few???

How big is your plant?
You want to grow them really big during the summer because the more "nodes" you have, the more spikes you'll get as each node will make one spike, which then makes one to six flowers (depending on the variety and the individual plant's habit).

Stop all fertilizing in the mid summer.
Expose the plant to highest light and cool or cold weather for at least one month.
This is the recipe for the ample flowering.