Why is my den nobile growing keikis and flowers at the same time?

[prisana]

This den of mine had mites infestation last fall . I cleaned the leaves (whatever's left) and have not been fertilizing it since Sept. I hardly watered it, but it's been getting rained on a lot.

My understanding was that if the plant gets fertilized during rest period, it will grow keikis instead of flowers. Mine is doing both. There are 18 keikis and 2 new basal growths on this plant right now. Any thoughts on this ,anyone?

Here are the pics..

[BillC]

Title : Why is my den nobile growing keikis and flowers at the same time?

Because you are a good citizen and kind to your plants!!! I wish mine would do something similar.

Bill

[tom499]

18?? Thats alot!!

The mite infestation will probably have caused the plant to respond as such. The threat of death can cause it to make keikeis.

I'd watch it closely, 18 keikeis and 2 spikes is an awful lot to grow at once, it may struggle.

[articuno75]

This plant must really love you for taking care of it.

[arleneg]

Wow! I wouldn't even question why and just accept it for what it's doing.

I wish mine would do that.

[exasperatus2002]

WOW thats alot of keikis. It may need feeding if its got that many growing.

[11Orchid126]

If you didn't fertilize it, did you water it? All water should have been stopped about November, or Thanksgiving. Unless you want a lot of new plants, you might consider taking off some of the weaker keikis and keeping only the stronger ones. Also, the lower down on the bulb the keiki is, the better.

[Anton]

Simple answer: Because they can.

I have a Hard Cane Den which had thrown keikis and flowers, AND flowers on some of the keikis !

Don't question Nature, admire it and enjoy because it will always throw something from left field when you least expect it.

[prisana]

I'd love to think there's nothing wrong with it but I just can't help it. I stopped watering it normally, same time I stopped fertilizing ( Sept ), but like I said , it's been rained on quite a bit. Should I start watering and fertilizing normally now since it's got so much going on ?

My other nobile is fine..no problemo.

[prisana]

Here are some more pics..

[Andrew]

Nobile and nobile type Dens are like kids. Some behave themselves without much coercion, others need a good kick in the pants to fall into line . Give it good light and protect it from the rain over winter and that should drive a non-conforming plant into better flower production.
Andrew

[prisana]

Andrew, thanks for the tip . I'll keep it out of the rain. It's been a wet winter but we're still in drought stage, thougt I'd kill 2 birds with one stone by leaving them in the rain ( BAD IDEA!!)

[11Orchid126]

Nobiles need a dry spell in order to bloom and should not be watered for a few weeks. Rain is water. Perhaps next season you can put your nobiles in a sheltered place where they won't get any rain for a while and see what happens.

[palito]

do they? I have seen pics of nobile hybrids flowering while growing in SH. The grower mentioned the key factor was the lack of fertilizer and not water.