Getting a little concerned about my nobile-type dendro

[Orchidementia]

My Den Spring Dream 'Kumiko,' a nobile-type den had to be repotted about a month or so ago due to severe medium breakdown, and since then, the new canes have grown another 3-4 inches. On the whole, the plant looks terrific - which is what is beginning to worry me; it's the middle of October and shouldn't it be starting to look awful, with yellowing and dropping leaves? It's dropped 1 leaf, and one more is starting to yellow. It also has a lot of new roots and is starting a new cane.

When it was hot and sunny, it was getting watered daily. Now that it's cool and there's less sunlight, it's getting watered about once a week. The canes aren't getting shriveled ... as I said, it looks terrific. Should I be worried?

It's outside, getting southern light. Temps are 70s/60s day 50s/night.

[butt0n]

My nobiles usually don't drop any leaves unless they've flowered. If it looks healthy and is still growing, I wouldn't be too worried.

[Uechi]

Nobile type Dendrobiums in the wild live at the base of the Himalayas. They love cold in the winter ( at least down to the low 30's). I would cut back on fertilizer till March and water very little. In the wild these plants get a lot of their water from clouds/fogs that hit the mountain tops and stall. Your temps are still pretty warm. If the plant doesn't drop most of its leaves its because it's getting either too much water and or fertilizer or it isn't cold enough. The real impetus for deciduous plants to drop there leaves is suppose to be the shortening of the days. In any event, a sparse water and fertilizer regiment will insure lots of flowers in the spring. The worse that could happen if the plant is healthy is that you will get few flowers and probably a lot of keikis.

[11Orchid126]

Ditto what Uechi said. For Dendrobium nobiles, plenty of water and fertilizer from April to August. In August stop all fertilizer. Start tapering off the water. By November stop all water completely. If the canes look shrivelled, mist them. In the winter they like it cold, dry and very sunny. If you have Yamamoto type dens, they don't need the long drought like regular nobiles do. If you must water, baby sips only. After bloom resume regular water and fertilizer.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Orchidementia

...it's the middle of October and shouldn't it be starting to look awful, with yellowing and dropping leaves? It's dropped 1 leaf, and one more is starting to yellow. It also has a lot of new roots and is starting a new cane.

I believe it is a bit unusuall that it is startign a new cane, but that's nothing to wory about. Jerry has mentioned from time to time that theYamamato bred nobile types are not uick to loose their leaves. This year my Den Yukidiruma (sp?) is in full bud and still has all o its leaves while my species Den virginale, which flowers earlier and is now finished, has lost all of its leaves and is starting to grow new canes.

All of that to say I dont' think you have anything to worry about at not loosing your leaves. Like I said this year mine kept its leaves all winter.

Though I think I would start to reduce the watering.

[patlee]

My den is only a mini, but it is still nobile. It has only dropped about four leaves and is also starting a new cane IMHO it is because of global warming--I know a lot of Geeks think this is foolish, but we have had eighty degree temperatures during the day and mid-fifties at night. This has gone on for weeks and it is the middle of October and we are talking about Ohio weather. You call it...

As Uechi said earlier, if they don't get a cooling down period they won't drop their leaves. Well, they haven't gotten it yet, so I am operating on the assumption that right now there is nothing to worry about...Besides, a new cane is never a bad sign...

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by patlee

global warming--I know a lot of Geeks think this is foolish, but .....

I don't think its foolish patlee, here in Australia we have seen in a very dramatic way, the heating up and drying up of the continent. It seems like almost the whole country is on moderate to severe water restrictions.

Originally Posted by patlee

.....Besides, a new cane is never a bad sign...

Yeah I dont' think there are any causes for worry where the Dens are concerned. If it gets too cold for the new growth to continue, it'll just slow down until it gets warmer again I suspect.

[Orchidementia]

Thanks, everyone. These are normal Oct temps for NoCal; they'll drop next month. Our RH is low now too, so once a week light watering is like nothing! Next month, the rains will start and RH will go up. Seems as though I was just not adjusting for my mild climate for leaf drop!

[davetheorchidaddict]

I met a lady and say her beautiful nobile that grows in potting soil and is left out year around, we do have some below freezing weather in West Central Florida, and thrives, when I saw it there were over 100 blooms on it. Winter here is the winter season.

[Orchidementia]

Mine was in obvious distress with it's broken-down medium, which had broken down to the consistency of potting soil; the new leaves were stunting and not opening and other indicators it wasn't able to use the water it was getting. Once it was repotted, all growth problems resolved. Mine is potted - I live in a 'towne home' as the complex calls it.

I'm sure once it starts getting a little colder, it'll act like it's supposed to - I just keep forgetting to adjust for California, even though I've lived here a decade now!

My other dens are growing, too, now but they're cool growers so no worries there - just plant happiness!