Big Orchid = Mature Orchid?

[Jerry Delaney]

[QUOTE=dianecty;117871]Gotcha! The ones i am talking about are dend nobiles. One of them has 4 shoots with 3 groups each. I think those will turn into flowers. The others are so active in growing roots and shoots.

Nobile Dendrobiums need a some special care to bloom properly (or bloom at all in some cases). First, in late fall, flush the pots well with just water. From that time on, water very, VERY sparingly (if at all depending upon your growing conditions). If you do water them DO NOT fertilize them. If they receive much nitrogen during this dormant period, the shoots that you think are going to be blooms next spring will give you a nasty surprise and turn out to be kikis. If you have hybrids that were made a number of years ago, they will also need to receive temperatures at night in the 40's to bloom well. Many of the newer hybrids do not need the cold nights to bloom well.