Floriferiousness of Dend 'Silver King'
 

Well, after an almost three year wait, my tiny freebie from Marble Branch Farms has two spikes showing individual florets.
It's been a LONG LONG time since my D. phalaenopsis days, which Silver King has as well as Latouria genes (which are kinda new to me). I have counted on both 'Silver King' and a mini bigibbum that I have three or four flowers only per stalk. I was kinda expecting more, am I being unrealistic or is this because it's the first set of flowers and there will be more per stalk later ?

I googled Silver King and counted, and the most I see is 4 in the photos...so maybe that's what it is?
And as long as I broach the question, I notice that the description seems to imply that Silver King will reflower on mature stalks? Really ? Because it looks like the flowers are terminal and I wouldn't expect reflowering in subsequent bloom periods.
Set me straight someone(s).

Ok. I had to look that up. Gorgeous! I see also there are older posts about it too. Did you like Marble Branch Farms as a seller? Of course, it is 25 degrees here...a little cold to be shipping ( for my peace of mind).

Yes, I loved dealing with Mark at Marble Branch. I ordered a D. laevifolium (which I sent to orchid heaven by allowing it dry out after about a year and a half, but it did really well and flowered several times...till I got lax), a dend tanii (which flowers faithfully every year, and grows dependably).
I've been pondering another order...but I've reached that saturation point where all windows are full (except a room I don't use).

Understood. Just moved a Den. Par. To that room.

I believe marble farms meant that each psuedobulb can spike multiple times. I have few latouria type dendrobiums and they all seem to spike multiple times from the top node over a few years (but not from the same spike).

I just got a shipment of a few catts and a den little atro from Marble farms. I ordered a 4" potted catt and they sent me a division in an 8" pot! I was pleasantly surprised.

Thanks Jeff, I haven't grown latourias before. It's just hard for me to envision them spiking again from the terminal bud, hopefully I'll see it again on the next bloom cycle (now that we started blooming).

here are some photos of latourias that spike multiple times from the top. I'm not sure if they ever spike multiple times from the nodes on the sides.

I can't say if all latouria hybrids act this way or not.

Thanks Jeff, that is helpful (the images), in helping me get my mind around what I should expect. Since I would never trim the canes, no issue there :)

That looks exactly like what is developing on mine. At the moment they look like tiny green nubbins. But, there are lots of them!

Ok, it's starting to open (ie two flowers working on it so far)...I'm anxious to see how long they last in my environment (been lots of dry heating lately)

could you post a photo of your entire plant? I'm curious to see how tall it is when it first blooms. thanks!

I suppose I can take outside today and take a shot, I can give you a quick estimate that it's about one foot high (maybe a bit more) with about 15 PBs.

Ok, it was 65F, so I took it outside and laid it carefully down for it's photo...and I think my estimates are about accurate. It's in a Solo drinking cup..and really should be moved up to maybe a 5 inch..it has grown vigorously.

It was super windy (25 mph), so I didn't even try to let it flop around upright.

Thanks for the photo, dbarron. I appreciate it. Looks like a healthy plant. I like clear pots over opaque ones - both aesthetically and being able to see root health.

I wanted to see the size because I've been thinking of purchasing den silver wings or fire wings from Marble branch farms. I have 8? latourias now... and it's hogging all the window space that I have.

I was hoping that it would top out around a foot at most.

Well it looks like it probably does. I am quite happy with the plant (which was sent as a freebie from Marble Farms, quite small in either a 1.5 or 2.5 inch pot (don't remember)). Personally, I like the floral look of Silver King better than Fire Wings OR Silver Wings (but that's quite subjective).

This looks like its from the Roy Tokunaga stable. I have found that once these flower if you maintain a good watering program the flowers can last up to 5 months,
I have certainly had this result with Den Sliver Wings

Yep, I believe you're right on both counts. I'll see how it goes with forced dry air (aka house heating) nearby.

Well, due to life/stress/whatever, I foolishly subjected this plant to a severe drought for quite an extended period of time. It took it perhaps two growth cycles to produce a flower after that...opening today.
I'm very sorry and I will try to not abuse the poor thing again, it's a very lovely plant and I look forward to a full recovery (where I can't see the warped stems it produced) in four or five year.

She is absolutely stunning. …which is lucky if she only flowers once every 7years!

No, if treated right, twice a year.

I gotta brag some more on this plant. Darn thing started blooming last year in Feb, has held at least one spike (up to 3 at a time) since, and I see a new spike that's probably a month away from flowering (just noticed today).
Gotta say, it looks like that's gonna make it more an entire year in flower.
I'm so glad they sent it (as a freebie), it's been a healthy plant for ten years now and flowering all except two of those years (my neglect). It was my first antelope!