Winter rest and no terminal leaf?

[Ffion]

Hi, I have my first Dendrobium Nobile type and I've been reading it needs a winter rest from around Halloween but it's past Halloween and the cane I've been waiting for still hasn't grown a terminal leaf. What do I do now? Do I continue watering until it appears (somewhere warm) or do I give it a cool & dry rest anyway- I've read somewhere 80% maturity is enough but I have no idea how to assess it.
I already have one bud on the old cane but obviously I'm trying to flower the other one.

[Tindomul]

This is an interesting question, I was unaware that they need a terminal leaf before going into rest.

[Ffion]

I'm not an expert by any means but I've read many times that the canes are ready for winter rest when they are mature and mature equals terminal leaf, as once it appears the cane has finished its growth (it will plump up but won't lengthen).

[estación seca]

First, Welcome to the Orchid Board!

As long as it's growing I would continue watering. Be sure to read the care instructions from Yamamoto Dendrobiums

Too much fertilizer and fertilizing too late in the season seem to be the main causes of most problems flowering.

Edit June 15 2020:
Yamamoto Dendrobiums in Japan hybridizes and produces a great number of these plants. Their Web site formerly had excellent growing information for hobbyists.

Unfortunately it is no longer there. You can still look at the varieties they grow, and maybe see one very similar to yours.

I saved the page, and summarized it in a post in this thread:
Uncertain if Dendrobium is still alive


Yamamoto now has a page showing how to force Dendrobium nobile for Christmas flowering in Japan's climate. There is a lot to learn from that page, but it is intended for growers who can artificially heat and cool their greenhouses during off seasons.

Note they use coconut husk for growing medium, which many orchidists would say retains too much water for orchids. For many orchids that is correct, but this is a very thirsty orchid.

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by Ffion

I'm not an expert by any means but I've read many times that the canes are ready for winter rest when they are mature and mature equals terminal leaf, as once it appears the cane has finished its growth (it will plump up but won't lengthen).

Thank you, I did not know these things. I am relatively new to Dendrobiums.

[Theodore Horstmann]

Does it make a difference if the plant is still flowering? I have a mature Dendrobium right now (Nov. 19th) that is just starting to lose it's firmness on the edges of the sepals. Is this the time to start the rest or should I wait a bit longer?

R/

Ted

[estación seca]

Interesting question. I have read they can be manipulated to bloom at any time of the year by varying temperatures. In your case I would keep watering to enjoy the flowers, then see what it does. It may be confused, think it's spring, and start growing.

Most people agree to continue watering a Dendrobium in active growth no matter what the calendar shows.

[Theodore Horstmann]

Thanks for the advice Mr. Seca.

R/

T

[Ffion]

Thank you all! So I'll keep it warm and watered and see what happenes. I doubt there'll be enough time to give this new cane a winter rest before spring comes but maybe it was meant for the next flowering period anyway. I think I wasn't giving it enough fertiliser and water during spring/summer time, I'll be upping the regime fot the other new growths next year.

[estación seca]

Please read the Yamamoto link, above. They say the chief cause of poor or no flowering is overfertilization. They say they only fertilize just before and just as new growth is beginning, and stop fertilization by midsummer.

Plentiful watering during the growing season is needed, as well.