Den. Sea Mary 'snow king'

[Jeremy]

Hello everyone. I just bought my first nobile hybrid which is in bud right now. I have a few questions on the growth habit of this particular hybrid. Does this plant need to lose its leaves first then flower because I have Den. parishii and it loses its leaves then flowers? When should I see the sign of new growth emerging if the buds are just opening now? Does this plant flower on one year growth (maturing fall of 2007 and blooming winter/spring of 2008) or two year growth (matured fall of 2006 and blooming winter/spring of 2008); I am concerned about this because I see a fully matured cane without flowers where the most recent growth is and flowers on the cane where it should have matured fall of 2006? Is it normal for this hybrid to bloom even though the cane is less than 12'' tall? Thanks

Jeremy

[Paul]

[COLOR="DarkGreen"]Sorry Jerremy, I've never grwonthis particular hybrid but....

"normal"? LOL Come now lad, it's an orchid -- they laugh in the face of "normal".

Do they HAVE to lose their leaves -- no.

Depending on the hybrid, new growth may wait until after blooming is finished before it commenses.

Which growth they flower on can vary. As long as it didn't flower at all the nodes on an old cane, it is possible that it would 'reflower' on the old canes. If for some reason it chose not to flower on a mature cane which has never flowered before, don't fret. Might just be storing up energy to give a really good show next year. [Or maybe it's just being 'ornery'. It is an orchid afterall. LOL]