Dendrobian Help

[Hummer344]

I listed this question a few weeks ago and got no response so though I would list it again in hopes that the Den growers out there might give me some clues as to what to do next

I repotted my Den in 6-07. The potting mix is my own mix of med. fir bark, med. coconut husk, vermiculite, and charcole. It did well, put out new roots then rested for the winter. In early spring, it put out a couple of new leaves then threw a Keiki and a spike. Sounds good uh. A few weeks later some leaves dropped & the spike dried up. The keiki did well and I cut it off and put it in a small pot. The keiki is doing very well. The mother plant has failed to thrive. It didn't throw out any more new leaves, and no new spikes. It almost looks as though it is winter mode. At the present time it gets watered once a week, fertilized every 2 weeks. During the winter it got watered every two week with no fert until spring. Until last week the fert was 20-10-10, Now its 20-20-20. It gets strong filtered light most of the day. I checked the roots and they look white and healthy.The canes are strong, not mushy. I haven't had real good luck with dens and now I am curious as to what I am doing wrong. Maybe the old adage "Patience Grasshopper" will apply.
thanks
David

[butt0n]

I'm not that far from you geographically and we probably have similar weather...anyways, I have nobile dendrobiums that get watered around 3 times a week. My dens at least have new growths and a ton of new roots and need the water around this time. I also have them under T5 lights; what is your lighting like? It could be that...

[Rocinante]

Poor lighting = keikis, too much Nitrogen = keikis. Keikis are fun, but not always best. You want flowers. Most Dens need intermediate or high light to bloom, and are generally warm growers. But most of all your watering issue strikes me as quite insufficient. Once a week is more like something you would do for a Phalaenopsis. and other low-light species. Dendrobium canes need to drink. And as well, there is different culture between nobile type and phal-type Dendrobiums with regard to winter dry rest. You need to know what type you've got and then learn about it's cultural needs.

AOS | Culture Sheets

[kmarch]

What kind of dendrobium (not dendrobian) is it? Phal-type, nobile-type, other?

[brookn]

Hi, I have a Phal-type that came to me bare root, and it has looked the same for more than a year. Yesterday I watered it and was pleasantly surprised to see a new growth. It has been dormant for exactly one year and one month. Mine like a lot of water also, I got the new growth 2 months after putting it into s/h.

[Sassismom]

I have a den. nobile, that has yet to bloom for me, so maybe I'm not watering enough, I've just started doing twice a week and have just recently moved it outside. By the way what is s/h?

[brookn]

S/h stands for semi-hydro. There are many of us here that use it. This was a test plant for me in the s/h to see how well it works. If you go into the forum, there is a hydroponic semi/hydroponic forum, and you can get some good info there.

[Hummer344]

UMMMM the one theme here is more water. Thanks for the input. FYI, this is a cane den. called Dragon White.

[butt0n]

Originally Posted by Sassismom

I have a den. nobile, that has yet to bloom for me, so maybe I'm not watering enough, I've just started doing twice a week and have just recently moved it outside. By the way what is s/h?

Nobile dens have to be shocked during winter months to make it bloom. For example, I put mine outside, in the shade from November until at least February.

[butt0n]

Originally Posted by Hummer344

UMMMM the one theme here is more water. Thanks for the input. FYI, this is a cane den. called Dragon White.

When it last flowered, did the flowers come off the side of the cane or from the top of the cane? That might help you out a bit more w/ culture.

[evagentry]

Hummer, I have a Phal type Dendrobim that I bought two years ago at a big box store,it put out keikes last year and this year. I thought it would never have new growth because it had been at the store for about three months before I bought it and I figured its eyes were rotted. Well the point of this is it started a new growth last week. I don't know if it is the new fert. I started using a couple of months ago or if it finally stopped sulking. If the roots look good maybe just hang in there, I would be careful watering a plant with out leaves tho'.

[articuno75]

I agree. Try increasing the watering schedule. I water my Dens at least twice a week, sometimes more. Misting the base also helps

[Orchidementia]

Hummer, I just saw this. I water my outside dens - I have 'cane' den-phals, nobile-types and a species - just about every day while outside during the summer. Come November, I'll cut back to no food and almost no water (once a week) until I see signs of life in the late winter/early spring. These buggers like light; nobiles can take almost full sun; the others like somewhat less (think of a sun-hardy fuchsia) and they LOVE food and water while they're growing. I don't know if it's possible to over-water a nobile type!

I'm no expert but I live near you and mine are doing very well (knock wood) so I thought I'd chime in!

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Hummer344

this is a cane den. called Dragon White.

Except for a few odd species, all dendrobiums have canes. Can you be more specific?