Overpotted, non-blooming den

E-Jag · #1 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 05:45 PM

I have two (it used to be one, I divided it several years ago) phal type dens. I was given the plant about 8 or 9 years ago. I knew nothing about orchids and wasn't especially interested, so I sat it on my balcony, watered it every couple of weeks and never fertilized it. Basically ignored it. It never bloomed. Imagine that. Finally decided to get serious about it a couple of years ago, so I hacked it in two and put each half in a clay pot large enough to hold a redwood. I joined this forum and started doing all the right things. They took off. They've tripled in size BUT no hint of a bloom. So, my question: Will overpotting keep a phal type den, which is otherwise healthy, from blooming? I use worm tea every couple of weeks, occasionally a little Peters 20-20-20. It gets huge amounts of light. Stays outside all the time. As usual, thanks.

____________________
E-Jag

mayres · #2 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 06:53 PM

My understanding is that you are on the right track - keep em underpotted if anything for blooming. I have followed this advise and it seems to be working every year.......

jbigio · #3 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 06:57 PM

The short answer is yes it can but there are other factors as well such as the amount of light, water and temp all play a part. Having said that, the do like to be pot bound and don’t like their root disturbed to much, once divided they could miss a season or two before blooming again.

Joe

prisana · #4 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 07:07 PM

Hi E-Jag,
I'm not 100% sure if over-potting is keeping your den from blooming or not, but in my case, one of my dens was moved into a larger pot and it skipped a year before it finally bloomed for me, but when it did, boy--it won't stop throwing spikes after another. I have another den that's tied to my coconut tree when it failed to bloom one year. It started getting wild and threw out 3 spikes in in one season, from one cane. Note that it's mounted to a tree, the roots are free to roam wherever they want. This experience swayed me from once believing overpotting takes away the plant's energy to make flowers, because it's busy making new roots..I could still be wrong , tho.

E-Jag · #5 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 07:08 PM

jbigio/mayres - Are you recommending I repot them into smaller pots or let them go and grow into the pots?

E-Jag

E-Jag · #6 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 07:15 PM

Prisana, that's encouraging. I'm not really wanting to repot them. Since they're growing so well maybe I'll let them go for another year and see what happens. This season is probably shot anyway. Thanks.

E-Jag

digitalgate · #7 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 09:59 PM

just let it grow. Sunlight very very important to bloom for Dendrobium phalaenpsis type of
orchids. IN my area, they never rest. well, rest 2 weeks tops. They bloom year round.
Cramped root is not a problem. Sunlight and fertilize is. They are the easiest type to bloom.
may sure you put them under shade cloth with 4000 to 5000 foot candle of sunlight and
fertilizer full strength (assuming you have 12 hours of sunlight). They should bloom
when the cane diameter is more than 2cm in diameter.

digitalgate · #8 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 10:07 PM

just look up the map. your area is still up North. You might want to cut back on water.
unless you can maintain 70s(minimum) temperature year round. The dendrobium is a
warm growing orchids. So no dormancy, If you want to see bloom, build a green house
to maintain that temperature. Lighting will be a problem for you as 4 T5 HO FL is still
not enought for it to bloom.

jbigio · #9 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 11:30 PM

How big a pot did you go? If its not that munch bigger let it grow in. If its way bigger you may want to pot down. Do you have pictures you can post that would be helpful.
Joe

Tobi · #10 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 06:37 AM

Although overpotting might deter them from flowering for a while, it will come around
for you eventually given the right conditions. I have several Phal type Dens that I
have been growing over the years. One that I got bare rooted from a vendor 3 years
ago has still not bloomed, but it was originally overpotted and has grown and rooted
considerably since I got it. They can be finicky at times until they get established, but
once they do as Prisana stated, they will bloom and bloom like crazy.

**sandra** · #11 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 07:52 AM

Hi E-Jag. I (almost) think that you can't underpot Dends. They always seem to find room to keep growing. The challenge seems to be in keeping them standing because they become very top heavy. I just potted up one Dend. that went crazy last summer with a lot of growth. I used a pot 2 inches larger in circumference and kept the plant in it's original pot, just added more bark. There's just slightly a little more room now, all roots tucked into the medium and I'm confident that there's enough space for the plant to continue growing. Your question leads me to ask if it makes a difference when repotting, whether or not it's best to leave the entire plant in it's original pot without disturbing all the roots or to just do a clean sweep, new medium and all. I think the less disturbing that's done will help prevent it from skipping any blooming.

Also, I've read numerous times that Dends. don't appreciate fertilizing. They'll end up giving you more keikis than blooms. I don't know but I always remembered this and never fertilize them and have a lot of luck with my Dends blooming, maybe that's why?

digitalgate · #12 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 08:18 AM

every body different. I wonder why. I do a lot of fertilizing and still get bloom.

but sandra your method is cheaper...

brookn · #13 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 02:01 PM

I believe that fertilizing nobiles during the winter rest will cause keikis and less blooms. For the Phal type you are just supposed to cut back on the fert. a bit in the winter. I believe I heard that from Tobi. Mine are still being fertilized, and it does not seem to bother them.

E-Jag · #14 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 04:00 PM

Thanks for all the responses, I feel a little less frustrated. Was thinking about taking it to the pool and turning it into a lilypad. I'm watering it/them about twice a week, not fertilizing much but I use worm tea so don't need to. Digitalgate - which map were you looking at, my friend?? Seldom gets below 70F here, from March through October is high 80's to mid 90's. We don't have a winter here to speak of. LOTS of light, buddy, LOTS of light. I'm taking your (and others) advice, though, and am going to leave them alone. Thanks again to everyone,

______________________
E-Jag

11Orchid126 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 04:05 PM

Your problem may be too much nitrogen. Dens don't like a lot of nitrogen. You might try switching to a fertlizer low in it, like Dyna-Grow Bloom. As far as the roots are concerned, it's an enigma. They can grow on the sides of trees with free roaming roots and bloom well, but if they're grown in pots they bloom better when pot bound. Go figure.

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