Dendrobium nobile stardust firebird

[troydingle]

Hi, I’m actually not into dendrobium orchid. But I got one from a friend and trying to make it work. So the plant was half dead as i received it. But i managed to care for it for about 6 months now. It has been growing quite great with many of new keikis and suddenly round 1 month ago they started to stop growing and the leaves turn all yellow,dried out and dropped. What should I do? The dendrobium supposed to have a winter rest, that I’ve known of. But I think my plant stop developing.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Hopefully someone with more experience will show up. But I thought the nobile do lose there leaves when they go into a winter rest. I'm thinking this is normal.

[estación seca]

It looks pretty healthy, with really nice roots. The stems are a lot shorter than most Den. nobile hybrids so maybe it's a smaller hybrid.

What have your temperatures been like? They are triggered to flower by low winter temperatures.

They do stop growing in the winter. Leaves normally stay on for 2 growing seasons before dropping in the late fall. Your oldest growths may be dropping leaves while the new growths are keeping them. Does that seem to be what's happening?

[troydingle]

The temperature now is about 64f at night and 70f by day. Humidity about 60%. I think it’s just right as you all said.

[estación seca]

I think it looks good.

[Regelian]

Dendrobium Stardust 'Firebird' is 50% D. unicum, a dwarf relative to the 'nobile' group. This hybrid has only about 12% nobile, with the rest being D. moniliform (25%, very cool grower), D. signatum and D. heterocarpum, both about 6% and intermediate temps. The plant can reach about 60cm in height and flowers along the entire cane. It does best with a cool, dry rest in the Autumn to Winter and will start back into growth around March in our climes. Blooming is typically in Winter (they are currently in the stores loaded with blossoms) to Spring.

Your plant look very healthy, but didn't get enough water during the last season. The bulbs are healthy, but small. I would leave it dry and cold (10°C) in full light until new growth or buds start and green root tips are apparent. Don't worry if it looses some leaves, but this hybrid tends to hold its leaves for more than a year. Quite different to the purer nobile hybrids. One reason it is very popular: you don't get all naked canes. It may bloom this year, but I kinda doubt it. In the Spring and Summer lots of water, light and fertlize at least once a week. I've tried it in the garden for the Summer, but it is often attacked by snails and prefers warmer nights than my garden typically offers.
Jamie

[troydingle]

Well I’m so glad to tell you that the plant (or plants) is (are) indeed doing well. Now everywhere the buds are forming. I counted 7 spikes with 2 buds each and 3-4 keikis maybe. Feeling good. Now I know much better how to grow this guy. I hope the new keikis would develop normally and stay not so tiny. Anyway thanks for all who reply.

[No-Pro-mwa]

we will be awaiting pictures.

[troydingle]

Happy

[Dollythehun]

I can see the unicum in the flowers. Great job.