Dendrobium kingianum on my patio
 

Looks like this orchid is blooming for a lot of folks here. I've had this plant for over 10 years and it wasn't until last year that I finally figured out how to get it to bloom and this year it bloomed up a storm. Took it in the house to enjoy the fragrance and the whole house smelled of it - very nice.

http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q...Resolution.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q...Resolution.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q...Resolution.jpg

:wow is all I can say! Great growing!

Very nice job.

I'm starting to think that there are maybe two hobbies in the world that are guaranteed to teach one the true meaning of patience: Raising orchids and playing golf.

So what do you think was the secret you finally found to successfuly bloom this one?

I've been thinking about getting one of these for years.

I just recently purchased one of these, and the seller commented that if you want it to rebloom it must experience night time temperatures in the 40s for at least a week. Is this what you did?

Oh WOW! What a gorgeous display! I wish mine was like that. I recently got few keikis that might be dendrobium kingianum (I am not positive). It looks like I have a long way to go until I get it to blooming size like yours.

JaneEyre, mind is maybe 1/4th that size and had 5 bloom spikes this year. So it doesn't necessarily have to be that big before it blooms.

Thats quite a potfull. Nice plant!

Hello, first orchid
 

Hello I'm new on this forum and to orchids its A kingianum I bought this orchid for its amazing aroma do it only has 1 spike but there at least 3 more spikes coming. Should I fertilize now thats in flower? When it comes time to pot up what medium or mix should I use? Im gonna try to post a picture sorry for the quality. thakyou for any recomendations.

Ramon

Ah. That's good to hear. The babies I have are only 3" to 4" so it still might take a year or two. But I'm hopeful. :)

OMG GOD!!! holly crap thats alot of flowers you put mine to shame! great growing!

the secret ....
 

The poster mentioning cooler temperatures is correct, they need lower temps to bloom and bright light during the year. I keep mine outdoors here in sun most of the day. Our Dec-Feb weather regularly gets into the low 40's at night and we have a fair number of nights in the 30's and a few frosts. As to size, I have a few very small plants a year away from being keikis on the plant and even with just a couple of short branches they flower.

Here's a picture of one of the smaller plants next to my bigger one, and I have others half that size with blooms.

http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q...Resolution.jpg

Wow, gorgeous display! I love the smell of this one.

Ramon - I have been fertilizing mine year round, so it's definitely fine to fertilize now. Mine is potted in a combination of perlite and pumice, but I do believe many people grow them in a bark mix.

fabulous! that's quite a display! mine has been in spike forever, and still waiting for blooms :p

Yep! Giving kingianums (and most dends for that matter) a cool spell is the secret to success. Roughly 8 weeks of cold for good blooming. Remember where dends come from- cooler highland areas of japan/pan asia
and cloud forests where evening temps can go down low. These are gorgeous btw- wish mine bloomed this well. Not surprisingly, it often gets too cold where I live (Chicago) and the buds blast :(

What an amazing display!!! :drool: Mine is getting quite large, but just can't get it too bloom. Too cold in the winter to leave it outside, and too warm inside.

So what were you doing before that it wasn't blooming for you?

Dendrobium kingianum
 

PS: Love your Clivia, too.
Beverly A.

Thank you for the reply I keep looking every day at the small little spikes.

We have the San Diego Orchid Show this week end cant wait.

R

Most outstanding! I hope you will share your method that brought such a magnificent display.

I just bought one with about 5 blooming spikes. Its in a VERY tight moss right now. Unfortunately there was no care sheet with it. Any hints. What are you growing it in. I'd seen one at the Philadelphia Flower Show for the past 2 years- it was maybe 4-6feet in diameter and you could smell it despite being in a huge building with maybe 25000 people, for over 30 feet. It is amazing. I"d love to keep it alive. How often do you water it, fertilize it and what is it growing in. Your's is what I'd like mine to look like in a few years<G>. I have both expanded clay medium and bark. I don't care for moss as I cannot see to tell when its just dry on the top and wet on the bottom. I won't repot it until its finished blooming. But at this point I do not know what light inside - I'm unfortunately sort of limited to windowsills until it warms up. Then it will go to a porch with sliding glass doors so it can be in sun, partial sun or shade but I have no idea and I cannot find much on Wilsonara's. Apparently you are doing something very right! Any help appreciated

mjHuntingtonBeach -> WOW! I shall take this picture and show it to my Dendrobium kingianum and tell it that thats what it should aspire to. :rofl: And maybe one of these days I'll walk downstairs and it will surprise me! ;)
I'm so LOVING your plant. Great job. :bowing

could you just stick the Den in the fridge to induce blooming? or would that not work?

Are your winter nights that warm?

They don't have to get night temperatures in the 30's F to bloom. 45 F for a night temperature is just fine.

These guys bloom reliably for me every spring.

It will get that large very quickly if you're growing it right. These are very "weedy".

I'm not sure if you can spot them, but he also has some keikis growing on some of the growths that are in bloom. Yours should do the same thing given some time.

I've had a Kingianum for many years It lived on the kitchen window ledge. Michigan winters were just right to get it to bloom. now in an apt. did'nt like it here. Well done it's BEAUTIFUL..