[jerrymeola]

Yellow song is a Yamamoto Dendrobium.

They can be treated a little different from species Nobile.

Stopping nitrogen this month is correct. We accidentally fertilized many last year and they flowered fine, but do not take the risk and stop fertilizer. Excess nitrogen can cause the plant to grow keiki and no flowers.

Do not stop watering. You can cut back if you like but Yamamoto hybrids do not need to be stressed with lack of water. Mine get watered regularly with my Cattleya and Oncidium. They share the same areas of the shade house. Currently they are getting about 3 inches of rain a week and up to eight has been common this summer. Rains will be heavy until November and it has never harmed any of these Nobile.

I agree Sharyn that lack of water could have been the cause of losing buds. By the way Oriental smiles is a late bloomer usually not flowering until March early April.

They take very cold weather well. I have frozen them to 25 while in bud and they do not even drop the buds. Flowering is normally February after getting a month of 50 degree nights. Yet I had a Den Himezakura 'Sanokku' flower this week in 90-95 degree weather whereas Decmber is normal for it.