What if it my Den Pierardii doesn't flower?

[gangof4]

SaraJean,

Did you take that photo of your den today (in other words, is that what it looks likes now?)

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by gangof4

SaraJean,

Did you take that photo of your den today (in other words, is that what it looks likes now?)

I wish. I will fully admit that these can be quite ugly in the few months between loosing their leaves and blooming. Right now it’s a scraggly mess of bare canes, a few dozen leaves that are still holding on, buds, and masses of roots from keikis that need to come off this year. But once these get growing again, they are one of my favorite looking orchids with just how lush they get buy the summer (that pic was taken in August after most of the growth was complete). Here’s what it looks like now and the other two pics show just how quickly the new growth will start putting out roots

[gangof4]

Thank you.

[estación seca]

In winter this species is normally almost leafless. The grower kept watering it, and kept it warm, so it would stay in leaf. Some people might get upset if they got a bundle of bare sticks in the mail in the winter.

If you keep it warm and watered all year, it will remain in leaf. It will not flower. It wants quite cool winter nights to flower, down to the 45-50 F / 7-10C range. Some people succeed with slightly warmer winter temperatures, but comfortable winter house temperatures usually keep this kind of Den from flowering.

In the normal growing cycle, people keep it cool and dryish through the winter. Cool is more important than dry. The plant makes buds in late winter, but it is not time to water much yet. When new growth shoots form at the bases of the stems, it is time to resume watering and fertilizing. When your plant begins making small green shoots at the base, it will be time to mount it, just as the new roots emerge. They will grasp the mount.

In summer, stop fertilizing by mid to late summer. Fertilizing too late prevents flowering, and encourages keikii formation.

[gangof4]

You're saying then that a den pierardii that looks like mine does now will not bloom this spring. Is there a reason I cannot mount it now and fertilize it in that case?

[estación seca]

When new growth shoots form at the bases of the stems, it is time to resume watering and fertilizing. When your plant begins making small green shoots at the base, it will be time to mount it, just as the new roots emerge.