Dendrobium won't bloom

[retiredbikelady]

I got my first Orchid (a Dendrobium) as a gift a year and a half ago. It gets a little sun in the early morning, and bright light all day. I live in south Florida, so it gets plenty of humidity on my east facing porch. It keeps growing new shoots, but doesn't bloom. HELP !!!!!!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

More light would probably help. Also, they like to be on the dry side during winter. Now, all of this is true for the average Den hybrid. However, since it is a hybrid, there is aways the possibility that one of the ancesters is a DIFFERENT type of Den and this plant favors that ancester. So, keep that in mind when you try to figure out what it wants. There are some Den species that are not to be dried out at all, ever. But not most of the ones sold in big box stores (I wonder where that name came from) and require a good drying out in winter, and less water in general when not growing. But, I think the most likely is not enough light. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[jerrymeola]

Since it was a gift it most likely was one of the common dendrobiums. The flowers would come from a stem near the top of the cane. these dens normally bloom in the cool spring and mine are just starting now.

Light level is the most common problem with orchids not flowering, although what you described should be sufficient. You can try moving it to a brighter area. You can always give am orchid as much light a it will take without burning. Watc hit carefully for burning in early afternoon. If you do not see anything for the first couple of days you are ok. Burn will seldom kill a plant but it does not look good. Burn is when the chlorophyl in the leaves is killed resulting in a brown spot that really does not go away.

In SW Florida, where I am, I water every day year round and fertilize every week with a balanced fertilizer.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

You can sometimes determine if a given lighting situation will cause burning by feeling the leaves early on in that lighting. If the leaves get hot to the touch, it is too much light and take the plant to the sink and cool down the leaves. Luke warm or a little warmer is OK. Remember it is the temperature that the leaf gets to that does the damage, not the character of the light as for humans (UV). Cynthia

[janet_a]

-chiming in- neither of my dens bloomed for *years* until i moved them into a full western exposure (in maryland). and i suspect they'd probably be happy with even more light.

[latebloomer59]

in fact I have a hard time keeping them alive at all. I bring them home blooming and then slowly the leaves turn yellow and they shrivel and die. I have several of the phaleaenopsis and they are doing well and bloom for me.
Most of the time they either reside in the bathroom or on a west facing window sill. I water once a week and lightly fertilize with an orchid fertilizer.
What am I doing wrong?
Latebloomer59

[retiredbikelady]

Thank you all for your "Dendrobium tips". I will try changing the fertilizer, and watering less in winter. I cut off the shoot that was hanging over the edge of the pot and put it in a pot of it's own. Now the shoot is growing a new shoot, and the parent plant is also. I have "shoots galore" but no flower spikes.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Late bloomer, if you are watering the Dens the same as the Phals, it may be that you are watering the Dens too much and killing the roots. During the growth phase, Dens can take more water, but during winter, when they are not growing, if you water them too much .you will kill them. Cynthia

[jerrymeola]

Latebloomer -
you do not show where you are. You are apparently growing them indoors from your comments.

I grow mine outside in near burning sun - about 5000 foot candles whereas 25-3500 is the recommended levels.

I water every day in this heat and light year round, and have noticed that lack of water accelerates the dropping of Dendrobium leaves. All dens drop leaves usually at about 18-24 months of age for the leaf. The shriveling makes me think that the plant is suffering more from lack of water. All canes shrivel but not usually until new pump canes emerge.

Shortly after the flowers die you should start to see new cane growth on Dens. If you do not consistently I would look for another supplier since it makes me think the flwoers were damaged before you bought them. I have taken leafless canes and had them put up new growth within 3-4 months. With all orchids I rate it healthty by the apperance of new growth.

To clarify, there are many types of dendrobiums. The most common are dendrobium phalaenopsis (a totally separate species from phalaenopsis), and dendrobium nobile. The den phals are mostly evergreen and need relatively bright light, intermediate temperatures and even moisture. The den nobiles are deciduous, need very bright light and need hot, wet summers and cold, dry winters.

A den phal blooms from spikes at the top of the cane. If I'm lucky, mine blooms a couple of times a year. The den nobiles bloom up and down the cane in late winter.