Question on spikes on Den. specs?
 

I was looking at my Dendrobium speciosums and noticed most canes on my large pieces of Den spec. are growing flowering spikes. Most are about 5mm long, but some are already 1cm and thick! One of my most loved Den spec. (DENDROBIUM ORCHID SPECIOSUM GRANDIFLORUM) ive counted over 30 flowering spikes!

I was wondering, will all these spikes bloom thing year, and seeing a plant with well over 30 spikes, will all these bloom or will some eventually die off leaving only a couple to grow on?

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3920797_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6903546_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4002642_n.jpg

Kind regards
Stephen

With continued good culture they should all develop. You're going to have a beautiful display!
Joann

Thanks Joann, also they are under 70% shade, but with no cover over them. I was wondering will too much rain in winter kill the emerging spikes?

Looks like you will have a nice show if they all bloom. :)My only concern would be that water may collect around the buds and they may rot. With cooler weather right around the corner things won't dry out as quickly, so rot could be a real issue.

Stephen, is spring in Australia considered a rainy season? If so--and since Dendrobium speciosum is native to your country--I wouldn't think that overhead watering would harm the spikes or blooms.

My experience with speciosum is that any buds that develop to the point that yours have [that is, they're actually green and have broken out of the small white paper sheaths that are typically formed (though not always) in the center of the new growths] will, in fact, continue to elongate into spikes. Just keep a close eye out for mealy bugs and scale, both of which adore developing speciosum spikes.

Can you post a picture of your plant, please? This is one of my favorite orchids, and I would love to see a plant with that many spikes (the most I've gotten at one time has been six).

Thanks! And good luck with your plant.

Steve

Stephan, all these spike should continue on and flower. Sometimes the odd one will abort but the plant sounds big and healthy enough for this not to happen. Cold snaps or extended cold may cause a problem. What is the winter temp/climate like in Fairfield ???

[QUOTE=smweaver;314960]Stephen, is spring in Australia considered a rainy season?

Steve, it coming on winter here now. Watering doesn't do much damage but its the cold snaps that can cause the problems. The plant is in Sydney and the futher from the coast Stephan is the more likely a cold snap could happen.

Thanks guys :)

Roy, the average temp now is like 17 in the day and 13 in the night. We did have some cold rainy nights last week at 10.

The plant isnt that big, 2 in a 40cm pot, and one in a 35cm. The big momma, with 30 odd spikes has around 25-30 canes, with heaps of roots above the pot. I was told it was natural for the grandiflorum to have roots growing upwards exposed out of the pot.

Will take some photos in the morning.
Cheers
Stephen

[QUOTE=Forever-mango;314970]Thanks guys :)

Roy, the average temp now is like 17 in the day and 13 in the night. We did have some cold rainy nights last week at 10.
The plant isnt that big, 2 in a 40cm pot, and one in a 35cm. The big momma, with 30 odd spikes has around 25-30 canes, with heaps of roots above the pot. I was told it was natural for the grandiflorum to have roots growing upwards exposed out of the pot.


Everything sound right to have the plant flower properly for you. Yep, the roots grow upwards and nothing you can do about it, thats the way it grows.

Thanks Roy.

Here are some photos of 3 prized Den specs i cant wait to bloom.

1. Den. spec v spec 'Watellow' x 'Neville' with approx 6 spikes
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1608419_n.jpg

2. My prized with over 30 spikes !
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4191327_n.jpg

3. Another big boy with over 12 spikes
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7931132_n.jpg

4. NoID Den spec (Dad won it for $12 at auction)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7183952_n.jpg

5. 2 Daylight moon crosses, only 2 or spikes on each
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1381183_n.jpg

6. Purchase late 2009 in a 80mm pot, now its in a 150mm and producing it first spike, cant wait!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6992352_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3026965_n.jpg

This year has been a fantastic growing season, cant wait for the blooms :)

Stephen