Den Yellow Song Update

[Sharyn]

My project orchid from Jerry started blooming before Christmas. A few days after New Years, it had opened completely. This was a fun project.

I kept it outdoors this fall until the temps starting going down to 40F, then I brought it inside for fear we might get a freeze. I watered it (gently) about once a week and occassionally misted. Total blooms = 18. Not too bad for its first time around.

I've enjoyed this project and comparing notes with all of you.

[articuno75]

YOWZA!!!! It is beautiful!!!!

[lissie0113]

Beautiful! I have a one of these that is spiking... and I check them every day to see how they've grown! I hope mine looks as pretty as yours does!

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Sharyn

Total blooms = 18. Not too bad for its first time around.

Not bad indeed! It's about 6 times the number of flowers I had on the forst nobile-type I flowered. You've done well! Enjoy your reward!

[patticake]

Gorgeous! What a beautiful show!

[evagentry]

Good growing Sharyn, it's lovely.

[lissie0113]

my baby yellow song now has 15 buds and 2 new canes starting at the base!!!!!! im so excited!!!!!

[Anton]

Pretty little thing isn't it.

[kmarch]

It's looking good!!!

[Sharyn]

Cool lizzie. This was my first successful year at blooming this type of den. I was surprised that each little spike bore 2-3 flowers. You should have a nice display very soon. Mine is almost spent now, so it's been in flower for about 6 weeks.

Post more pics soon.

[fred]

Sharyn I apologies for not posting sooner
good growing
congratulations great blooms
thank you for posting

the Queen of growing a Den Yellow Song

[lissie0113]

thanks for the info sharyn! i was wondering how long these little buds would stick around after they finally open up. i have 4 spikes with 3 flowers each, one with 2, and one at the top with 1 bud. 15 total! im so excited. especially because this is the first flower buds ive ever gotten on my own! this baby was a seedling when i got it. ive brought one other to spike, but it blasted before the buds even formed. ( but im excited for this one!

[norris]

Sharyn, between this one and the beautiful one you showed us a few weeks ago, I guess I need to seriously consider trying my luck with a Den.!

[Sharyn]

Thank you Norris. I bought both of my Yamomoto grown Nobile Dens from Jerry. This year, I followed Jerry's advice and watered them. Last year, I was reluctant to water much and had nothing but bud blast - ony 2 flowers on my Oriental Smiles. The temperature change is also very important. I have the ideal conditions here in my Midwest climate - that is, in the fall it gets down to 50F-40F for most of the month of October and November. If you can provide the temperature change for a month and a bit more watering than normal nobile dens, you should have success!

I say, go for it. They're truly lovely orchids. Now, I just wish my paphs would do the same.

[articuno75]

I agree with the watering. I think that was the problem with mine. I gave mine the "Close but no cigar" syndrome. Buds were ready and everything, and all of a sudden they blasted. Then what I thought were going to be new buds ended up being keikis.

[lissie0113]

it finally bloomed and i am so excited! this is officially the first orchid i have brought to bloom all by myself! It has 15 blooms, all open and beautiful!

[Sharyn]

Good going Melissa! Looks great and nice count on the flowers. Definitely a keeper.

[patticake]

Both of you! I only have a few of the Phal type dens. This is really tempting me to try one of the nobile types!

[tizzycat]

Stunning Malissa, I love yellows.

[NancyG]

Yours is just gorgeous. I've got one from Jerry that I'm waiting on. It has been outside and lost all of it's leaves. It still is green but no buds yet. I'm hoping.

[hulaorchid]

Yeah!! we love blooms! Great growing! I am having nobile dreams!

[flowerchild]

I have a Dendrobium Oriental Smiles too. It has grown a little bit, but not enough to satisfy me, what conditions should it be grown in?

[articuno75]

Originally Posted by lissie0113

it finally bloomed and i am so excited! this is officially the first orchid i have brought to bloom all by myself! It has 15 blooms, all open and beautiful!

How are you growing it? I see that you have been able to keep all the leaves on yours. It looks stunning!

Mine dropped all the leaves before it set buds. My buds blasted though.

[evagentry]

What a beautiful plant,nobiles are so lovely, good job!

[Sharyn]

Originally Posted by flowerchild

I have a Dendrobium Oriental Smiles too. It has grown a little bit, but not enough to satisfy me, what conditions should it be grown in?

Try Yamamoto's site. Go into the care section for information. I found it quite helpful. Yamamoto Dendrobiums Hawaii

I grow mine indoors in a south window. About mid February, I tip the blinds a bit because of the increased strength of the sun (I have many other orchids in that window that cannot take full sunlight). When warm enough, I'll move it outdoors. They like a lot of water over the summer months. Stop fertilizing in August.

Leave it outside until you can get about a month of night time temperatures of 50F or less. I left mine out until the temperatures dropped to about 40F; then for fear of possible freezing temps, moved it indoors. (That was about mid November in my climate.) Back indoors for the winter.

It will not need nearly as much water, but you cannot let it dry out, especially when the buds are forming. My personal watering schedule was to use the skewer method. When almost dry, I watered about the same amount as the size of the pot. (About a cup of water for a 4 inch pot). I used a tall double sized shot glass for the Yellow Song (which is in a 3 inch pot). Due to the forced air heat and much less humidity, I probably watered about once a week. The first year with my Oriental Smiles, I was shy and only gave baby sips and had mostly bud blast. Giving it the proper chill period and considerably more water brought success.

Sorry, Cindy, for being so lengthy, but it took me two years to get successful blooms from the Oriental Smiles and my plant is approximately 4-5 years old. Of course, I've stated what worked for me in my climate. You'll have to make your own adjustments. Good luck!

[lissie0113]

So I purchased this little guy in May 2008 at Akatsuka Orchid Gardens while on my vacation in Hawaii. I brought 5 seedlings (1 den, 1 epidendrum, and 3 catts) in 2in pots back with me and placed them on a south facing window. I watered every 2-3 days, and fertilized once in awhile.... but no regular fertilizing schedule. A few months ago.... a small sunburn spot appeared on one of the den leaves, so i moved it to a west facing window with an overhang where it got [I]just slightly[I] less direct sunlight. I think maybe the key was that I never slowed down on my watering. I have read that dens like to have less water in the cooler months....but i was under the impression that since this was a seedling it wouldnt flower for another year or two. So i just kept on watering every few days when it looked dry. The pot isnt very big so i was afraid to let it go too long without water. Thats pretty much it. I guess I just found the right spot for this guy. Would it be time to repot this den after it finishes flowering? its getting sort of top heavy and i think it needs a slightly bigger pot. i figured the right time was after flowering.....

[lissie0113]

okay and just a couple of pics i took when i was at the greenhouse... it is a paph that won some huge international show and is valued at $20,000! and the pic from my avatar..... anyone know what kind of den it is?? i think it is sooooo gorgeous.... i love yellows...... it was the showstopper in there, taller than most of the people!