dendrobium loddigesii ~ out of control keikis, will it harm itself

[NewLeaf]

Hi I got an in bloom and carrying keikis Dendrobium loddigesii a few moths ago. The vendor mentioned it produces a lot of keikis but it seems a bit of an over achiever.

I have pulled off 4 keikis thinking I could lighten its load but it has since just put out more. It currently has 13 on 8 growths.

I'm not wanting it to die off from exhastion. Is this how these normally grow? I will add all through this it has put up a new growth from the base so it doesnt seem to be suffering. Just want to know if I should try to do something or let it be.
thanks

---------- Post added at 09:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:49 AM ----------

Can't seem to see the delete option.
I searched(google using orchidboard.com in search term) and didnt seen anything about this but just stumbled across a thread that says it's normal.

Thanks

[estación seca]

I'm just curious... where does this idea, that we must chop growing plants into little pieces to keep them healthy, originate?

[NewLeaf]

Personally for me it was from seeing a phal basically kill itself carrying 3 kikis for a year and go gradually down hill. Mind you it was getting sub par light and water and no fertilizer so it was draining all energy to the new plants.

I borrowed it to put it under lights and separate the Kiki’s and it has recovered enough it’s working on a spike, roots recovered and a new leaf but it was dying a slow death. It will go back to its owner in bloom.

My dend is in great health so you are right I guess I can’t extrapolate that uncared for phals experiences to a very healthy dend.

Thank you for making me think that through

[Chris17]

That is completely normal for the species—it will not harm it. The plant will form a thick mat of keikies/growths. Just make sure you wet the whole thing when watering.

[NewLeaf]

Originally Posted by Chris17

That is completely normal for the species—it will not harm it. The plant will form a thick mat of keikies/growths. Just make sure you wet the whole thing when watering.

I seriously didn’t think of watering the kikis I figured their air roots were a sign they were fine. Thank you for mentioning that it makes perfect sense but it might have been another 6 months before that occurred to me.

[camille1585]

Threads can only be deleted by admins and moderators.

The difference with Phals is that with the exception of a few species, carrying multiple keikis is not really normal for them. Like Chris says, this Den species grows in dense mats so you'd expect it to be a prlific keiki machine. (Check out photos on google, some plants are quite impressive)

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by NewLeaf

Personally for me it was from seeing a phal basically kill itself carrying 3 kikis for a year and go gradually down hill. Mind you it was getting sub par light and water and no fertilizer so it was draining all energy to the new plants.

I borrowed it to put it under lights and separate the Kiki’s and it has recovered enough it’s working on a spike, roots recovered and a new leaf but it was dying a slow death. It will go back to its owner in bloom.

My dend is in great health so you are right I guess I can’t extrapolate that uncared for phals experiences to a very healthy dend.

Thank you for making me think that through

Just to be clear... you mean the Phalaenopsis had 3 plants developing on old flower stalks?

[Regelian]

With exhausting plants, we must keep in mind, that, our culture may not be perfect for the plant (in the case of a Phalaenopsis, which are easy, but require warmth) and it simply cannot grow optimally through the entire year. They may start something that they will not be able to successfully complete. Then it may well die in the effort to maintain, as example, keikeis. I only keep a handfull of Phalaenopsis, as my condition in Winter are simply too cold for optimal culture. expecially with the currently popular P. violacea type hybdirs. They hate temps under 20°C/68°F.

In the case of D. loddigessi, it lies in its nature to keikei en masse. This is how it claims an area for growth. Phals. do the same in nature (don't kid yourself it is a house culture thing) and will cover a tree with its genetics over the years.

A strange item that I had happen in my garden, the keikeis on a D. nobile hybrid were disappearing. I found them later built into a blackbird nest! Does this happen in the natural habitat? Most probably. Nest material is a universal commodity and we know just how intelligent and inventive some birds are. And another way orchid spread.

Also, no need to delete your message. It is very important that such references remain. After all, exchanging info is what this forum is about!
Jamie

[NewLeaf]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Just to be clear... you mean the Phalaenopsis had 3 plants developing on old flower stalks?

Yes.

---------- Post added at 09:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:13 AM ----------

Originally Posted by camille1585

Threads can only be deleted by admins and moderators.

The difference with Phals is that with the exception of a few species, carrying multiple keikis is not really normal for them. Like Chris says, this Den species grows in dense mats so you'd expect it to be a prlific keiki machine. (Check out photos on google, some plants are quite impressive)

Ahh that makes sense. I only finally bought 2 dends in the last two years so I’m on a learning curve. My other den aggregatum has not kiki’d at all in 2 years. Glad to hear I can just let it do it’s thing and enjoy.

---------- Post added at 09:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Regelian

With exhausting plants, we must keep in mind, that, our culture may not be perfect for the plant (in the case of a Phalaenopsis, which are easy, but require warmth) and it simply cannot grow optimally through the entire year. They may start something that they will not be able to successfully complete. Then it may well die in the effort to maintain, as example, keikeis. I only keep a handfull of Phalaenopsis, as my condition in Winter are simply too cold for optimal culture. expecially with the currently popular P. violacea type hybdirs. They hate temps under 20°C/68°F.

In the case of D. loddigessi, it lies in its nature to keikei en masse. This is how it claims an area for growth. Phals. do the same in nature (don't kid yourself it is a house culture thing) and will cover a tree with its genetics over the years.

A strange item that I had happen in my garden, the keikeis on a D. nobile hybrid were disappearing. I found them later built into a blackbird nest! Does this happen in the natural habitat? Most probably. Nest material is a universal commodity and we know just how intelligent and inventive some birds are. And another way orchid spread.

Also, no need to delete your message. It is very important that such references remain. After all, exchanging info is what this forum is about!
Jamie

Wow that’s both helpful and kind of amazing to picture if the dends managed to grow as part of that nest.