Dendrobium kingianum bud blast

[Miss_Cat]

I thought I had finally figured out how to grow and bloom my little Den. kingianum on windowsills after 3 years of experimentation. I gave it the cool and dry treatment this winter and this spring it finally produced a dozen spikes or so. I resumed watering and its blooms started to open. It's a cute little thing and it smells wonderful.

The problem? Some of the spikes are now drying off when they were growing nice and plump a week ago, and buds that were looking green and promising are now blasting, all shriveled up and dry. It is still sitting on the cool bathroom windowsill where I got it to spike. Could it be that our warm spring temps are causing it? Something else?

I'm at a loss on what to do. Any advice is welcome.
Thank you.

[Zoi2]

Beautiful blooms, did the air get drier with the warmer temps?
Joann

[Miss_Cat]

Always pretty dry here. The bathroom averages 50-60% humidity, and that the best in the house. I wonder if evening baths moisture might be the culprit.

[WhiteRabbit]

Hot, steamy bath? I wouldn't expect just the increased humidity alone would be a problem - but perhaps thw temperature of the moisture could be ...

[RosieC]

I've not had problems with Den Stardust blasting when I have a hot bath and the bathroom get's really steamy. You never know though

[stonedragonfarms]

Very cute flowers. Hopefully the others will chime in, but I'd attribute blast to one of three things:
a. Temperature; you say it's cool on the shelf, but what are we talking about? If my kingianums get down into the low 30's/upper 20's and are not absolutely dry (as in their media is bone dry) I will usually lose buds; I believe that the plant probably sheds flowers in an effort to protect the rest of its tissues.
b. Inversely, a sudden swing in temperature from very cool to very warm will have the same effect, especially if the plant is in a dry environment or if it does not have enough water in the media.
c. I have had kingianum blast spikes if I resumed watering while they are still in their "rest" phase; it's as if the water is a trigger that it is time to switch from flowering season to growth season; this can be negated to some effect if you provide them with warm days (70-75F) and cool nights (40-45F), provided you allow the media to dry completely between waterings.
Good luck,
Adam

[Paul Mc]

Mine blasted two yrs in a row now! I've kept it in the same place for the 5 years I've had it. The only difference between previous years and the last two was actually lack of water. Last year I broke my ribs and couldn't lift anything to water without excruciating pain. This year, I've been better about watering but am realizing my collection is too large for the time available to tend to them, so it suffered lack of water as well.

I find it interesting about the "too much" water, because based on my limited experience with it I was thinking the opposite! LOL...


Paul McMahon
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Miss_Cat]

Interesting. I switched watering from once to twice a week when buds started. Maybe my kingi didn't like that.

[WhiteRabbit]

Mine gets watered year 'round, tho less in winter. It grows outside all year. With our warm, dry winter this year, it looks like it was maybe somewhat under-watered. I increased water a few weeks ago. Lots of buds opening now. During a couple weeks in March, we had very warm (80s), very dry (humidity low 20s, high teens) daytime weather, nights being chilly and damp - it hasn't missed a beat.

I wouldn't think they would want to be dry when buds are developing and opening - tho maybe others have done ok with that ... Mine has done well this way.

[Miss_Cat]

Ooohh... What a bounty! Looks gorgeous. You definitely did a great job. Where do you live to let it grow outside year round?