Dendrobium laevifolium

[dbarron]

Hello, I've been out of orchid growing for about seven years, and finally ordered some dendrobiums a bit over a month ago.

I noticed my dendrobium laevifolium had started a new growth yesterday, I couldn't tell if it were a root or a new PB, but today it's had grown enough to tell it was a new PB and not only that...but two of them (different old bulbs) where there were only one yesterday visible to me.

Is it a good sign that they're growing so fast? My successful background is cats, phals, and oncidiums in the past. I usually killed dends (nobile types) quite quickly and coulldn't force my D kingianum to ever bloom...before I gave up and let it go to orchid heaven after five years. I've never had one change so much in so short a time (especially considering how tiny these plants are).

Mine is 3 three back bulb chain, with newest mature bulbs having split into two leads. At present, each mature PB is only sending out a single new PB (the tiny ones I'm watching now).

Obviously, I'm hoping this means I'm doing things that make it happy...but I worry that the energy to produce the new PBs was stored from the growers efforts not mine. I've done my due diligence and am caring for the new dendrobiums seemingly adequately. They're currently living in an eastern window and getting watered about every third day (small pots). Every third watering, I allow them to soak to clear any buildup..otherwise, it's fertilized weakly with each watering. I'm afraid it'll be too hot and sunny in a southern window...though I've wondered, if they would prefer more light.

So..give me information/opinions, please. Thank you.

Danny