Dendrobium kingianum had parts that grow the dry up.

[fooferdoggie]

I got this guy ands couple pups last may I think it grew two new shoots and then pumped out a ton of roots it did not have much of any when I got it. seems to be a happy guy it is right under the leds. it gets watered two or three times a week depending on how it dries out. the babies get it about the same they grow like weeds too. but then it grew a small shoot really fast that then went limp and dried up then it pupped out the start of spikes and they just stopped and dried up. up until a month ago it got really light fertilizer in the dip water.

[Roberta]

IF it was short of roots to start with, that last shoot might have been just more than it could support at the time. I'm sure the plant is fine, and will do some more growing in the spring - which will be the time to pot if it needs it (though if you potted when you got it, should be able to go another year or two.

[fooferdoggie]

Originally Posted by Roberta

IF it was short of roots to start with, that last shoot might have been just more than it could support at the time. I'm sure the plant is fine, and will do some more growing in the spring - which will be the time to pot if it needs it (though if you potted when you got it, should be able to go another year or two.

no it grew the shoot after it grew all its roots. I swear you could almost see the roots grow they were so fast. maybe a month or so ago. it seems healthy. the shoot sprang up far faster then usual but much smaller then just went limp. unless it is a more heavy feeder? but I have not seen that being the case. the small guys are growing well.

[Roberta]

It still might have just outdone itself. It's still early, that last shoot might have just been too much. These really don't eat much, and in winter even less (I don't cut back watering in winter, just do less of it since things don't dry out as fast) Some people say that they need a rest... I haven't seen that they care.

[fooferdoggie]

thats what I was thinking. that shoot only took a week or two to grow. I was looking forward to blooms that was a bit of a bummer. it was the fastest growing orchid I have had. they can take almost full sunshine from what I have heard right?

[Roberta]

I just think it got ahead of itself. Plenty of time for blooms... when the days get longer. Since they bloom for several years on a growth, losing one new growth doesn't mean no flowers on the others. Spikes can pop out from various places on the established growths, not just on top.

[fooferdoggie]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I just think it got ahead of itself. Plenty of time for blooms... when the days get longer.

ya I thought it was a bit soon but most of our phals are blooming now so who knows?

[estación seca]

Dendrobium kingianum needs a lot of water when making a new shoot. If you let it dry out once it might lose the shoot. Where it's from it's good and wet for the entire growing season.

[fooferdoggie]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Dendrobium kingianum needs a lot of water when making a new shoot. If you let it dry out once it might lose the shoot. Where it's from it's good and wet for the entire growing season.

it never really gets dry. when the outside of the moss is not wet we water it. but maybe even couple of days instead of 3 or 4?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Dendrobium kingianum needs a lot of water when making a new shoot. If you let it dry out once it might lose the shoot. Where it's from it's good and wet for the entire growing season.

Amazing that it does so nicely at my house, where it definitely goes dry sometimes, and experiences low humidity most of the time. I grow it in coarse, loose media. I find that it, and its close relatives, tend to climb out of pots quite happily, and throw keikis (some individuals more than others) with little access to water at all, that also bloom quite happily with a tenuous connection to the mother plant.