Dendrobium kingianum help needed

[brookn]

Hi all. Recently I recieved my shipment from Oak Hill, and my Dendrobium kingianum though very small, is in spike. I have watered it when it dries, and it seemed to be doing fine. Two of the spikes have now started producing buds, but the third seems to have dried up. Should I be overly concerned? The other two spikes look great, and the plant is also shooting out a new growth from the base. I can supply some pics if needed. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Anton]

Yes Brook if you can supply photos that would be of great help.

I have about 6 kingies of different varieties, so may be able to guide you.

[brookn]

It ought to be really happy now, I just dropped it taking the pics. No damage, but I dumped a bunch of the bark. Pic isn't great, I just used an old towel behind it so I could get the shot.

[brookn]

Here is a pic of the new growth. You can see in the first pic the dried brown spike. Thanks so much for looking.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by brookn

Two of the spikes have now started producing buds, but the third seems to have dried up. Should I be overly concerned?

I don't think you should be overly concerned, or even slightly concerned. The lost spike is most likely due to travel stress/change in conditions.

[brookn]

Thanks Kevin, I figured that probably was what is going on. Thanks so much.

[rodbender]

I have to agree with Kevin. It is most likely travel stressed and will bounce back nicely

[kmarch]

"Kingies," as we call them here in Australia, amaze me with their toughness. I wouldn't be surprised if the other spikes went on to bloom normally. Last year a guy spoke at our orchid club on Den. speciosa and he also had all sorts of pictures of Den. kingianum in situ in...I think it was New South Wales (north of me). There were sprawling blankets of kingianum on exposed rocky cliffs, in nearly full northern Australian sun (which is intense enough to burn most of our orchids), in very harsh conditions ranging from blistering hot to cold, wet to bone dry, almost no shade at all (you should have seen how red the leaves were) and they just grow and grow and grow.

All of that to say they're tough, tough, tough! You won't need to coddle it. In Missouri you could probably grow it outside most if not all of the year (unless it gets down to freezing).

Also, here in Melbourne, I keep my kingies pretty wet. Both my species and hybrids, I water them a lot, especially in summer when they're growing. But it does get really hot here in summer....but as I recall from my one and only trip to St. Louis, it gets hot there too. Others might have other opinions on watering them.

[brookn]

Well, the buds are looking okay even after I dumped it taking my abominable pics last night. One should be opening very soon. I think I have been keeping it too dry. My phalaenopsis-type Dends like to dry out pretty good, and I was treating it like one of them. It does get to freezing here, but we are almost to spring (it's monsoon season ha ha). I figured once temps stabilized to 45 F and above, I would wean the wee one outside with the Cyms. The only problem I am having about it going outside is that it is in a 3" pot, and I don't know where to put it that it would be safe. Maybe I will just hang it and the Cym eburneum (it's in a 3" pot also probably not for long though) from the pot of my giant Cym Forty Niner hee hee. Probably not very esthetically pleasing, but that way I don't lose them.

Must be a sight to see the blanket of "kingies". I would love it. It does get hot here, in the hottest part of the summer temps hover from around 90-100 F + sometimes. I figure my son will be on misting detail this summer, he's really into the orchids (and zombie movies-go figure). He even has me watching an orange oncidium right now on e-bay for him. He's a huge Tennessee fan so it had to be orange "Go Vols" lol. Thanks so much for the help Kevin, you rock.

[articuno75]

Brook~ Maybe if you got a small pot hanger and hung it on one of the Cym pots. That doesn't sound like a bad idea at all. As long as a squirrel or something doesn't come and run off with it.

[PhalPal]

Kevin, Brook what do you use for medium with your Kingies?? i bought one at the SB show and probably should re-pot now. It has some new growth and is pretty snug in it's pot. I'm happy to know it can take heat and sun; summer is coming too quick!

[kmarch]

My kingies, both species and hybrids are potted in medium bark mix with perelite and charcoal. One of my kingie species is in coir.

You'll probably have to water a lot more frequently in your South Cal summer but they won't have any problems with the heat.

[brookn]

Mine is in bark and perlite. The roots look like they are trying to escape right now, and I am contemplating a repot, but don't want to disturb it, maybe when it finishes blooming.
Jenny no squirrels allowed here, last summer my cats killed a full grown one (heck of a fight). Most times they sit on the power lines and curse at the cats now. They never come into the yard though Stupid cats will let the birds eat their food, go figure.

[Hummer344]

As tough as these guys are I suceeded in killing one last fall. It just went belly up. I had had it several years & it looked like it got frost bitten but the temps at the time were not cold enough. I waited awhile to see if it would send out new shoots but it didn't. When I un potted it the roots were in terrible shape. I think I over watered it and it rotted but I didn't water it more than once a week. Go figure. Now I have another one so will see what the out come on this one is. Will have to be more careful about watering it.

[PhalPal]

Hummer how did you grow yours, so I am sure to not make the same mistakes???