Life cycle?

[kjennings94]

Hi guys

I am just wondering about the hard cane dendrobium - when does a cane reach maturity? I have a few dendrobiums and they've produced new canes but they are only half the size of the mature ones. Will it takes two summer until complete maturity or might i be doingg something wrong?

I'd love to hear your insights!

Cheers,
Kimmy

[RosieC]

Dendrobiums of all sorts will usually mature their canes in one season. Even when they don't get a winter rest I've always found the canes don't grow any further the next year.

I have found that shorter canes can indicate that the needs of the plant were not met as well this year as last. However I have problems with hardcane Dens so can't advise much how to improve their care.

[WhiteRabbit]

When did those new ones start growing? Do they look to be finished growing?

[kjennings94]

Thanks RoseiC. They are shorter but they are really fat too. Mind you when i first acquired these orchids i cut all the canes right back except for one, which i regret now, but perhaps the orchid was just busy making new canes to speed up and continue it's survival?

White Rabbit, they started at the start of summer (Nov/Dec) and they are really healthy but the older canes are twice as long. I assumed that maybe they might finish growing to full size by next summer.



---------- Post added at 07:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:26 PM ----------

I might of had an epiphany...
I live in the tropics of QLD, Aus and it is warm and humid all year round except for winter (Jun/Jul/Aug).
Maybe the orchids are just growing to the warm conditions, and rest during the three months of winter only to grow again... I've heard that they start growing again in spring too, during the flowering period..
Does that sound right??

[WhiteRabbit]

They are probably still growing - it's only been a few months.