Dendrobium unicum flowering?

[Rocinante]

People, take a look at this photo. I know it's hard to see, but a couple of days ago the little keiki dropped it's leaves for no apparent reason and now I'm noticing these little buds appearing in various stages of growth all over the fat canes. I've never seen this happen before, as this is my first nobile-style dendrobium. Is it flowering? Digitalgate, where are you?

[sandra]

John, it's hard to see from the photo, where these buds are but are you sure they're buds and not more keikis? Buds do grow on the canes of Nobiles as you've described. The only thing I'm not sure about is the timing...I thought Nobiles bud and bloom in winter. My Yamamoto's do but I thought all Nobiles do. I hope I'm wrong. I'd love to have some summer bloomers also. What's the name of yours?

Fingers crossed, hope they're buds!

[sandra]

OK, I have no excuse....Dendrobium unicum

[kmarch]

Den unicum does flower up and down the canes like a nobile. In fact Den unicum is used in some nobile hybrids. I only tried to grow unicum once, about 6 years ago. Unfortunately it was one of the fastest-killed orchids I've ever had.

[digitalgate]

look ok. but is the plant outdoor? summer is here. Look like the return of the zombie where
it return from dormant just.....

or... Or a bloom coming?

[Rocinante]

It's hard to take a good close-up photo, but there are a bunch of little green sprouts popping out from the two fat canes that came to me bald to begin with. The little keiki dropped it's leaves a couple of days ago, seemingly for no reason. It is tagged Dend. Unicum. I bought it from Oak Hill, not in great shape to begin with, but as long as there's green I'll keep growing it. I know it's a hard grower, but the fragrant orange blooms are worth it if I could ever be successful. I'll try to take some better pics as it becomes more apparent what these growths are. I know the timing is odd and it looks like a zombie, but the big fat canes are still quite green. They probably are keikis. I'm not doing too well with blooms lately. I'm growing in an apartment under LED's. Perhaps LED's do not provide enough light for blooming. Lots of new growth on all my 'chids though. Remember, I'm a newbie with only 10 months in the hobby. Still can't hold a candle for some of you out there as far as experience goes. I want to do well.

[kmarch]

Well it sounds to me like it could possibly be in spike. Deep breath, turn up the volume on the patience, and in a few weeks we'll probably know for certain.

Originally Posted by Rocinante

I'm not doing too well with blooms lately. ..... I'm a newbie with only 10 months in the hobby.

If you've only been in the hobby for about 10 months, I'm not surprised you haven't got a lot of blooms, not because you're a newbie or inexperienced, but simply because 10 months isn't enough time for many commonly grown orchids to get through 1 complete growing/flowering cycle. A lot of dendrobiums, many cattleyas, most phals, and lots of other orchids will only flower once a year. If you bought them in flower, then not enough time has elapsed for them to have gone through a complete cycle to where they're blooming again. Make sense? So don't just be patient with your plants, be apatient wiht yourself too and don't assume your plants are't flowering because of your inexperience. They just may be doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing and doing it well!

[Rocinante]

Absolutely, Kevin, thanks for the pep-talk. I have a great deal of new growth of pseudobulbs, canes, leaves, etc. I'm very pleased with that so far. Killing has been to a minimum. The few times I've killed, I've learned a lot. I want very badly to achieve a level of success in this hobby. Orchids are so very fascinating! I got into the hobby because in '05 I had Pancreatic Cancer (one of the few blessed ones to survive, 3 yrs now cancer free) and at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hosp. outpatient clinic in N.Y.C., there are orchids everywhere! They provided for a hopeful atmosphere. They must pay someone to care for them. Anyway, they were absolutely beautiful! In the gift shop they sold orchids for reasearch charity, and last year I bought one! An Oncidium NoID. Still have it. Hope it blooms again this summer. But no matter, it's growing just fine... and now I have 25 - 30 mostly miniatures.

[orchid_girl]

I don't have any nobile types so I have no experience. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you

[berkeleysgr8]

John, I actually got goosebumps reading your last post. Congratulations on 3 years cancer-free. I liked how you described orchids providing a hopeful environment! It looks to me like you have some flower spikes starting on your canes. You'll have to keep us updated!

[Rocinante]

Thanks, berkeley! I go back for screening on August 8th, I'll try to take some pics of the office, it's amazing!

[patticake]

John, That would be so cool! I would love to see those pictures! I've only been doing orchids about the same as you. I have lots of growth, etc., but I'm very new at the blooming and re-blooming thing!! It sounds like you're doing a great job! I only have 2 Dens- Cathy Beck, and a noid that I got for free last November. It's finally getting a little new growth on it. I thought for sure it was a dud! I'll be curious to see the bloom since I have no idea as to what it is!
Good luck on your Den, and also on your tests!!!

[Rocinante]

Thanks so much, patticake! I'll be sure to post 'em when I get 'em!

[evagentry]

Thank you for sharing your story, I am so glad you have three cancer free years!I don't have the type of dendrobium you have, but my Yamamoto type is budding right now and should flower soon, so maybe yours will also, I hope your test results turn out well.

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by kmarch

If you bought them in flower, then not enough time has elapsed for them to have gone through a complete cycle to where they're blooming again.

Kevin, I try not to buy my orchids in flower. I look for orchids with new growth and good potential. I want my orchids to bloom for me, unless of course, I need the instant satisfaction of inflorescense . We all do sometimes. I bought one in bloom just Saturday. I'll show everyone in another thread.

Here's an update on my Den. unicum- it is budding! Here's a couple of pictures (I'm not the greatest photographer though):

[patticake]

Nice... I'm still hoping that one of my 2 Dens will flower someday...*sigh* Make sure you post pics when yours does!

[solay]

Yay for blooms! I only have one Nobile type and now I know what to look for. Good growing.

[arleneg]

Congrats on the buds!

I have a Den. unicum hybrid. I bought it January...started budding in February. It's been blooming since! Oh, the cute thing gave me three different colored blooms (pink, peach, and salmon/bronze...different on each clusters of blooms).

I have two. For some odd reason, its sister is not blooming as much.

[berkeleysgr8]

Congratulations! Those blooms seem to have developed quickly... it's only been a month since your original post. I can't wait for you to post photos of the flowers!