Dendrobium Expert Needed

[LizK]

I bought a 10 pack of Dendrobiums on Ebay over a year ago. They look healthy enough, but they do not bloom. One is called D. Bobby Mesina x Jihad Gold. I think the others would probably require the same cultural treatment, so I won't list all the names (now). If there is a dendrobium expert out there, I would love to know how to take care of these plants. I recall reading somewhere that these are not the kind of dendrobiums that require the fall/winter dry spell. They are growing in bright light most of the day but full sun in the late morning and early afternoon. The temps during the day average 70-75 and night temps are around 60. There is plenty of air circulation, too. I also fertilize regularly and let them dry out between waterings. Why are they not happy??? Thanks for any help. I do not want to throw them onto the compost pile (yet). Liz

[arleneg]

Hi Liz,

Don't throw them away, yet. Where they seedlings/not mature when you bought them? If so, it will take 2+ years before they mature (i.e. blooming size) and bloom. So be patient.

[LizK]

It's been a while, but I recall that some of them were blooming when I received them. I don't think they need a dry period, but next Fall I am going to try exposing them to cooler nighttime temps. Some have new growths now, so I will keep on trying. The Seller recommended a bloom boosting fertilizer, so I will try that too. Thanks for your help, arleneg. Liz

[jerrymeola]

They were probably stresed when you got them. The sellers on Ebay are resellers not nurseries and the plants have changed hands several times before you got them.

Also this is the season approaching for dens to flower, so be patient throughout the spring and early summer.

Normally you can not stop dens from flowering.

By the way most dens flower within 18 months of germination, unlike other orchids. I take my 1 inch plugs to flowering in as little as 6 months.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

While these are growing (and eventually while blooming) don't let these dry out. They like lots of water while growing and blooming. When the are not growing or blooming, they should be allowed to dry out good, with a few extra days dry before being watered again.

[kmarch]

Hi Kevin here, I just joined the forum today so I hope my jumping in with my 2-cents isn't premature. When I buy plants, whether from a nusery in person or through the mail, it is not uncommon for the plant to skip a blooming cycle or 2 as the plant reacclimates to my growing conditions. Also, if the plants were posted bare-root instead of in the pot, add another cycle or two for them to get established. Happy Growing!

[LizK]

Thanks eveyone. I will keep trying. Yes, they were mailed bare-root. I know the flowers will be so beautiful and worth the wait. I think I've been letting them dry out too much while growing. I'm sure they need more light and water. I intend to put them outside in some sun next summer which I did not do last year. They were out, but in shade. Thanks again. Liz

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Dens are high light plants, but be careful you do not burn them. 40 to 50% of full sun is good, and maybe full sun in the early morning while it is cool, but go slow to aclimate the plants to high light.

[kmarch]

Hi Liz,

Another bit of info you may find helpful: I used to live in southern Michigan. i think the climate there might be alot like yours. I grew my Dendrobiums in an east window. They got a few hours of direct morning light every day. When they were in active growth i watered them regularly once a week, less in winter, about every other seek and then only lightly.

Happy Growing!

Spring and summer is their growing season, and as Cynthia says, they will like lots of water and fertilizer. The fertilizer should be low in nitrogen, as dens don't like a lot of nitrogen. And they bloom better if the roots are tight in the pot.

[LizK]

Kmarch, did you take the plants outside in summer, or did you grow them in an east window all year? I didn't think they would bloom with the light in an East window without adding artifical light. Liz

LizK, my dens like lots of light, as much as I can give them without burning. When I put them outside for the summer, they get lots of early morning light til around noon, and then very bright light for the rest of the day. Without this summer outing I don't think they would bloom as well or as much as they do because of it.

[kmarch]

Liz,

I lived in an apartment so had no place to put them outside. The east window provided somethng like 3-4 hours of direct morning sun every day. I bloomed things like D. antenatum, D. bracteosum, some D. biggibum hybrids, a D. nobile (once).....

-K